The Yaoi /Boys' Love/ Danmei Audience

Abstract

Yaoi , boys' love (BL), and danmei are all popular culture designations for male–male romance and erotica largely by and for women. This entry provides a brief outline and history of the development of yaoi and BL in Japan; slash fiction, yaoi , and BL in the West; and danmei in China. Fanbase demographics are provided for Japan, China, and the anglophone West. Research provides evidence that the fanbase is, indeed, predominantly female and, as often assumed, heterosexual but that the engaged anglophone demographic has a much “queerer” set of gender and sexual identities that appears to be the case in Japan and China. Challenges for yaoi /BL/ danmei culture include legal remedies for copyright infringement and increasing attempts to regulate sexually explicit material on the internet. While male–male romance and erotica by and for women may be interpreted as having feminist and progressive potential, this is not necessarily the stated motivation for engagement by fans. Even so, importantly, danmei culture is credited with helping to raise public awareness of same‐sex relationships in China.