Investigating the Psychological Mechanisms Underlying Chinese BL Culture and the Analyzing Associated Subjects

Abstract

This research explores the complexity of the BL industry, its origin, its evolution, and the psychological mechanisms behind its popularity among women. Since the introduction of Japanese BL culture into China in the 1990s and has developed rapidly, which formed a strong female ideology and a mode of network as the main communication space in the process of localization and contributed to the emergence of the Fujoshi group. However, behind BLs seemingly powerful narrative lurks unconscious misogyny and anti-feminism. The article will use Lacans mirror stage theory, Freuds castration complex theory, and Ueno Chizukos Misogyny to intensely discuss the psychological mechanism and the problems existing in the epidemic process of BL and the attraction of Fujoshi culture, which reveals the BL provides a fantasy world where women can project their desire and seek an idealized, egalitarian model of love. At the same time, binary gender expectations are also prevalent in BL culture, reflecting traditional gender stereotypes. It suggests that some BL creators may harbor self-loathing towards their own gender and envy towards men.