What is BL?
Boys Love, also known as BL, is a genre of manga that features two men – or boys, if it has a high school setting – falling in love. BL is also an umbrella term, encapsulating other genres like shonen-ai and yaoi, among others. For an in-depth introduction to BL manga, check out this wonderful post. BL sometimes includes Korean webtoons or manhwa, but for the purposes of this list, we’re sticking to manga. I’ve been reading manga for a while now, but my discovery of BL manga is new in comparison. One of the things I love about the genre is romance. I have found stories with beautiful art, compelling characters, and swoonworthy romance. That being said, the genre of BL does receive its fair share of criticism.
Criticisms of the Genre
One thing to note about this genre is that is primarily written for women, by women. There are several nuances to this statement, at least in terms of its implication for queer representation. The first is that when I read a BL manga, I’m not always sure about the author’s sexuality. If I’m reading a BL story by a queer author, then I am listening to an underrepresented voice. Most of the time, though, that isn’t the case, which brings me to my next point. The issue with women who aren’t part of the LGBTQ+ community writing BL is that often, you cross the line into fetishization, which is another form of discrimination because it’s essentially othering a community. You can almost always count on escapism and erotica in BL manga, but authentic representation is another matter entirely – it can exist, but it certainly isn’t a feature across the genre. Moving away from representation, another issue that often wrecks my entire reading experience when it comes to BL manga is the distinct lack of consent between characters. Again, there are – thankfully – titles that don’t partake in this theme, but it’s prominent enough in the majority. I can’t remember the number of times I’ve read a manga where the characters are about to get into it and one of them does not consent, to no avail. Any protests, expressions of discomfort, or fear, fall on un-listening ears. As a reader, it’s a very disturbing experience. The issue is exacerbated by the fact that rape is almost normalized, both within the narrative and the genre overall. Not all titles follow this tradition. There are some great stories out there where we see meaningful, healthy relationships between characters.
Healthy Pairings in BL Manga
Some of these titles have a steamy romance, while others barely go beyond a kiss. What I like about all of them is that the characters respect each other, and if they happen to hurt each other, they resolve the conflict in a mature and meaningful way. Although the BL genre has a long way to go in terms of the relationships it portrays, collections like this list make me happy to be a fan. CW: suicide, depression
