Sexuality in Fanfiction
Why is There So Much Gay Sex in Fanfiction?
First, it's crucial to recognize how many literary works feature few to zero female characters in the main cast. In many cases, there are no women for fanfiction writers to pair the male characters off with. Male characters that spend their screen time with another male counterpart have a more natural relationship together than with a random love interest thrown in the mix; it's not hard to see why Sherlock and Watson (called "Johnlock") are a more popular pairing in works for BBC's Sherlock than Sherlock and his canonical love interest, Molly.
It's also important to think about who has been writing most fanfiction: young women. For most young female authors and readers, they will never experience a gay male relationship. Their relationships, regardless of orientation, will always be a feminine experience -- and they must face all the rules that come with femininity. Gay male pairings in fanfiction allow young women to explore their sexuality without the societal limitations given to their gender. In these fanfictions, girls can discover their sexuality and fantasies without being punished for disobeying gender roles.
Gay male relationships appeal to young female readers as "equal" relationships, where no one is alienated or taken advantage of because of their gender.
Interested in learning more about sexuality in fanfiction? Check out this video essay by Jessica Kellgren-Fozard!
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Floegel, D. (2020). “Write the story you want to read”: world-queering through slash fanfiction creation. [Queering through slash fanfiction creation] Journal of Documentation, 76(4), 785-805. https://doi.org/10.1108/JD-11-2019-0217
Milena Popova. Dubcon : Fanfiction, Power, and Sexual Consent. Cambridge, Massachusetts, The Mit Press, 2021.