In a significant escalation of censorship, Chinese authorities have detained numerous authors of Boys' Love novels, a once-sought genre that portrays romantic relationships between men. This crackdown, described as the largest police operation of its kind, has focused on writers, primarily young women, as the government expresses increasing concern over perceived obscenity within these works.
Among those affected, a graduate student who published an online romance spanning 75 chapters, depicting intimate encounters between male characters, is now facing potential criminal charges. She had modest success with her writing, garnering around $400 from readers who paid to access her story.
The clampdown follows a troubling trend where at least 12 writers in Anhui Province were tried on obscenity charges late last year, with additional investigations underway, including into the aforementioned student in Gansu Province. Reports indicate that some authors have received heavy fines or have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms for creating and disseminating "obscene" materials.
Boys' Love fiction, which originated in Japan and gained a dedicated following in China since the 1990s, provides an alternative narrative to traditional gender roles in romance literature, primarily appealing to heterosexual female readers. The genre experienced a surge in popularity during the 2010s, inspiring notable television dramas and fostering a new generation of male stars in China.
However, as the genre's influence expanded, state media began to label it as "vulgar," citing concerns that its narratives might distort the sexual orientations of young audiences. This shift in perception has led to numerous cancellations of Boys' Love adaptations and restrictions on gay-themed content in media. A high-profile case in 2018, where a popular author was sentenced to ten years in prison on obscenity charges, signaled a harsh response from the authorities that continues to resonate within the literary community.
As these events unfold, the fate of Boys' Love literature in China hangs precariously, sparking critical discourse regarding freedom of expression and the state’s role in regulating artistic content.
Among those affected, a graduate student who published an online romance spanning 75 chapters, depicting intimate encounters between male characters, is now facing potential criminal charges. She had modest success with her writing, garnering around $400 from readers who paid to access her story.
The clampdown follows a troubling trend where at least 12 writers in Anhui Province were tried on obscenity charges late last year, with additional investigations underway, including into the aforementioned student in Gansu Province. Reports indicate that some authors have received heavy fines or have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms for creating and disseminating "obscene" materials.
Boys' Love fiction, which originated in Japan and gained a dedicated following in China since the 1990s, provides an alternative narrative to traditional gender roles in romance literature, primarily appealing to heterosexual female readers. The genre experienced a surge in popularity during the 2010s, inspiring notable television dramas and fostering a new generation of male stars in China.
However, as the genre's influence expanded, state media began to label it as "vulgar," citing concerns that its narratives might distort the sexual orientations of young audiences. This shift in perception has led to numerous cancellations of Boys' Love adaptations and restrictions on gay-themed content in media. A high-profile case in 2018, where a popular author was sentenced to ten years in prison on obscenity charges, signaled a harsh response from the authorities that continues to resonate within the literary community.
As these events unfold, the fate of Boys' Love literature in China hangs precariously, sparking critical discourse regarding freedom of expression and the state’s role in regulating artistic content.
