Prepare to hear more rambling than you really wanted!
I'm sure there are a variety of reasons for female interest in m/m fiction. For me, there are multiple levels.
First, the shallow. I like boy parts. If one cock is good, two is better. And most of the fanfiction I read or write is about characters that I already find attractive, either physically, intellectually, or emotionally, so the sexual just adds to that. I like the male physique. I think you put your finger on it when you point out the sexual aggression as a turn-on also.
Second, many (although not all, I will admit) of the media fandoms and even book-based fandoms don't contain strong female characters, or if they do, they are not female characters I care to explore in the negative capability way that fanfiction allows. This leaves us with gen-only fic or with slash, even if the slash is subtextual. And seriously, if you look at some tv shows, movies, or books, you can probably find some sort of subtext.
Then there's always the subconscious stuff. When I'm watching or reading porn with two men, there's no I wonder if I could do that, would he like it if I did that, she's got bigger tits and a tighter ass sort of mental commentary and comparison. It's safe from insecurities.
I have been in fandom for, oh, six years, maybe? I started in the Potter world, and have drifted into other fandoms, and when I first found slash I was more willing to read anything, no matter what the topic/content/kink, because it was so novel and different. But as time has gone on, I've sort of found my squicks and kinks and am less likely to read some things that initially I might have given a try just because it was slash. I don't like non-con, I don't like poorly characterized/researched D/s, I don't like true violence, and sometimes I hit the back button. But all in all, I'm happier with slash fanfiction than the proper "romance" or erotic novels I've read.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2008-04-04 02:08 am (UTC)I'm sure there are a variety of reasons for female interest in m/m fiction. For me, there are multiple levels.
First, the shallow. I like boy parts. If one cock is good, two is better. And most of the fanfiction I read or write is about characters that I already find attractive, either physically, intellectually, or emotionally, so the sexual just adds to that. I like the male physique. I think you put your finger on it when you point out the sexual aggression as a turn-on also.
Second, many (although not all, I will admit) of the media fandoms and even book-based fandoms don't contain strong female characters, or if they do, they are not female characters I care to explore in the negative capability way that fanfiction allows. This leaves us with gen-only fic or with slash, even if the slash is subtextual. And seriously, if you look at some tv shows, movies, or books, you can probably find some sort of subtext.
Then there's always the subconscious stuff. When I'm watching or reading porn with two men, there's no I wonder if I could do that, would he like it if I did that, she's got bigger tits and a tighter ass sort of mental commentary and comparison. It's safe from insecurities.
I have been in fandom for, oh, six years, maybe? I started in the Potter world, and have drifted into other fandoms, and when I first found slash I was more willing to read anything, no matter what the topic/content/kink, because it was so novel and different. But as time has gone on, I've sort of found my squicks and kinks and am less likely to read some things that initially I might have given a try just because it was slash. I don't like non-con, I don't like poorly characterized/researched D/s, I don't like true violence, and sometimes I hit the back button. But all in all, I'm happier with slash fanfiction than the proper "romance" or erotic novels I've read.