Session Title: (21) Perspectives of Chinese Boys' Love Literacy Consumers in North America on LGBTQ+ Community

Session Type: Research Education 30-Min Talk Talk
Topic(s): Equity and Inclusion, Research (NRPA Research Sessions/”NRS”)


Day/Time: Wednesday - Block 4 - NRS2
10/11/2023 03:00 PM (Central Time (US & Canada)) - 10/11/2023 03:30 PM (Central Time (US & Canada))

Room: Room D174

Audience Experience Level: Any level
Audience Familiarity with DEI: Any Level
CEU: 0

Description:
Boys’ Love (BL), a romantic fiction genre featuring relationships between two men, is written primarily by women and for women. This study investigates how Chinese BL fans in North America construct the fandom based on their consumption of BL literacy and whether such consumptions can facilitate more tolerance and acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community. Mixed methods were used through a small group of self-identified BL fans with a convenience sampling method. The results showed that the respondents were a group of highly educated women with a long history with the BL genre. They found the BL genre empowering because it depicts the types of relationships and characters free from the social norms and gender-role constraints. They reported favorable views on gays and lesbians but more neutral views toward transgender people possibly due to less contacts. The consumptions of BL literacy as leisure have contributed to more accepting attitude and understanding toward the LGBTQ+ people over time.

Learning Objectives:
1. Recognize the subculture of the BL genre and its fandom as leisure.
2. Describe the impact of engaged BL consumptions as leisure on perceptions of LGBTQ+ group.
3. Discuss how BL consumptions as leisure can contribute positively to diversity, equity and inclusion for members in the community.

Speaker(s):

Yating Liang