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reviews_and_ramblings ([personal profile] reviews_and_ramblings) wrote2008-10-15 11:42 am

Women who like to watch gay porn

Interesting article by Lisa Scott on Metro.co.uk even if I don't agree with her in this claim

"Watching and reading gay male porn also allows women to explore unchartered territory. When women are faced with a male and female romance or sex scene, they naturally associate with the female. When it's men-only, you can be whatever you fancy - submissive or dominant."

I have my theory, an evolution of Laura Kinsale's theory on why women read romance; Kinsale said that when a woman read a romance she identifies herself in the hero, not in the heroine, and this is the reason why some female authors have so strong male characters. So, for me, I read M/M romance since I have the chance to identify me in TWO characters and not only one; in other words, no one of the main characters in the book has a lesser role, they are both protagonist.

http://www.metro.co.uk/metrosexual/article.html?Women_who_like_to_watch_gay_porn&in_article_id=356386&in_page_id=8&in_a_source=

[identity profile] lab-jazz.livejournal.com 2008-10-15 11:18 am (UTC)(link)
Interesting article even if it was somewhat superficial.
I find Gay porn very erotic, I'm not sure why but I suspect it's because it's between equals. Not necessarily in size but more so in enthusiasm.
I don't watch heterosexual porn very often but when I do I get the sense that the woman is just a prop for the men...a hole to be filled. But as I said I don't watch it very often so perhaps I just haven't come across any good stuff.

[identity profile] elisa-rolle.livejournal.com 2008-10-15 11:28 am (UTC)(link)
In a way you think like me, equality in gay romance is what makes it interesting for me. Elisa

[identity profile] angelabenedetti.livejournal.com 2008-10-15 02:40 pm (UTC)(link)
It's always entertaining to find that a member of the mainstream press has just discovered slash. :) They're completely ignorant of the years and decades of thought and discussion on the subject, so they come up with the first shallow explanation that pops into their heads and sounds sorta reasonable and publish it as fact. They're so far behind in this race that they've been lapped a dozen times, but they don't even notice because they're so focused on themselves and their experience and their opinions. One of these days, a mainstream media writer is going to actually do some serious research on the subject rather than just publishing their own blatherings and I'm going to fall off my chair in shock.

Angie

[identity profile] elisa-rolle.livejournal.com 2008-10-15 02:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Let me know if you ever find that article... maybe for a time it will be an opinion from a woman who actually read something on the matter she is talking.

Elisa

[identity profile] angelabenedetti.livejournal.com 2008-10-15 02:47 pm (UTC)(link)
If I ever do run across that article, I'll definitely post a link in my journal. :D

Angie

[identity profile] muroku.livejournal.com 2008-10-15 06:16 pm (UTC)(link)
I read m/m because I like men being aggressive with each other in bed (*^_^*). It is appealing to see "equals" together and honestly I don't know if I associate myself with any character. I just like to "watch".

I've seen some gay porn but it was very low quality.

[identity profile] elisa-rolle.livejournal.com 2008-10-15 06:19 pm (UTC)(link)
I have seen some gay porn but truth be told I prefer a gay romance movie. Even a simple kiss, if in a satysfing movie, could be arousing. Elisa

[identity profile] xamaque.livejournal.com 2008-10-15 08:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Interesting theory. I personally think that different women have different reasons for liking M/M fics. Some of my own reasons are:

I like guys better than girls, sexually. So with two guys, it's twice the goodness. Also, I don't like mentally comparing myself with women in sex scenes. They are usually gorgeous, and I'm not. With two guys, I don't have any issues with my body image. Finally, I like the way M/M stories tend to be written better. It isn't 100%, by any means, but it seems like there is less bubble-brained, gooey romance. The two characters are portrayed more as equals, even when the power balance is very uneven. Or maybe I just have issues. *G*

[identity profile] elisa-rolle.livejournal.com 2008-10-15 09:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Good theory... since I also have issue with my body, maybe there is a bit of that also for me. Elisa

[identity profile] snowmore.livejournal.com 2008-10-16 12:44 am (UTC)(link)
I had stopped reading m/f romance stories some time ago (except for Paullina Simons' books). I think I gave up on the fairytale. My knight in shining armour had passed me by a long time ago.

But, being a girl, I still like to read about people in love and something drew me to m/m love stories. Like the writer pointed out, Brokeback Mountain was my cue.

I can't really put my finger on it - why I enjoy m/m love stories with sex or gay porn, but Mr. Lear does make some good points:

says Lear: 'Female readers don't need a central female character to identify with; they get off on men as men get off on women, appreciating their bodies, enjoying graphic descriptions of sex and objectifying men. They love the idea of a randy gay man seducing other men.'

His observation makes it appear so simple.

I did worry at first why I had this strange need to read about men in love or watching gay porn. Then I opened my eyes and noted I wasn't the only girl who did. :D

[identity profile] elisa-rolle.livejournal.com 2008-10-16 07:01 am (UTC)(link)
> I did worry at first why I had this strange need to read about men in love or watching gay porn. Then I opened my eyes and noted I wasn't the only girl who did. :D

Same here :-) I was so happy to find that I was not alone. Elisa

[identity profile] ebony-silvers.livejournal.com 2008-10-17 02:19 am (UTC)(link)
Well, I find I enjoy writing m/m more than m/f. I think part of it is the depth of characterization I can indulge in. No one expects sappy romantic elements in m/m so I can be a tad more... realistic? I'm not sure the word I want.

The article was quite shallow. I've seen better. Especially on some of the gay sites. Very interesting discussions there of het women reading and watching what was developed for gay men.

[identity profile] elisa-rolle.livejournal.com 2008-10-17 07:03 am (UTC)(link)
If you have some interesting link, please let me know, I'd be happy to share it with others. Elisa

watcher

(Anonymous) 2009-04-11 09:04 pm (UTC)(link)
I am a female who enjoys watching hard core male gay porn. It excites me very much. I have never watched hetro porn and have no desire to do so, is there something wrong with me ?

Re: watcher

[identity profile] elisa-rolle.livejournal.com 2009-04-11 09:10 pm (UTC)(link)
> is there something wrong with me?

I ask the same thing to myself since people continue to ask me why I read M/M romance... actually I really don't know, the simple answer for me is since I like them. But it's a too simple answer.