Fan Service in the Anime, Sexism in the Fandom: Why Fan Service in Anime is a problem
Fan service is a rather infamous thing in anime. It seems to be, well, almost everywhere. Yes, there are plenty of series that are blissfully free of fan service, but it is one of those things that pops up more than it should.
We define fan service as the hyper-sexualization and objectification of women’s (and sometimes even young girls’) bodies within anime. Fan service is framed in a highly sexualized context and is aimed at a male audience. It should be noted here that not ALL “revealing” outfits are fan servicy. Misty from Pokemon, after all, wears a bare midrift and very short shorts, but isn’t fan service.
Fan service takes the form of panty shots, boob shots, useless bikini armor, and is deliberately framed in a sexualized male-gazey way.
So, why is that a problem? Who cares? Isn’t is just good fun? Well No.
Fan service turns women’s bodies into a PRODUCT to be sold to men. It is a SERVICE after all, remember? It frames women as simply eye candy, there for men to drool over, a ploy to male boys by DVDs because there’s tits on the cover.
That’s dehumanizing and alienating to many female fans, and it often leads to very poorly written female characters in the text.
Not only is it just a problem within the text however, but it bleeds into the fan community as well.
There is a very real problem at many cons surrounding Cosplay harassment. Female fans is cosplay are seen as fair game for harassment, unwanted groping, and the like. After all, the characters these women are dressed up as exist as objects for men to droll over, so men see women dressed like that as objects to drool over too.
It is important to remember than fan service does not inherently RUIN an anime or a character. But it is a problem, and the sooner we confront that problem as a community, the better.
fan service isnt only for men, most anime’s have fan service for the ladies too .
but fan service like boos or panty shots is Always a ‘problem’ ? and not only men ‘enjoy’ these kinda things, i’m a girl and i like fan service, men and women.
just because they’re girls it needs attention? i don’t see men whining about the fan service for women. who cares though it’s meant to be funny and a bit teasing not to make women lust objects.
1. I am attracted to women. I still find fan service to be alienating. As I said, your milage may vary, but fan service is aimed at straight men, not queer women. It still presents us as sexual objects, and many of us still find that alienating.
2. I can’t cover every single possible issue that is in anime in a single post. So yes, I focus on female objectification here. Yes, male characters can be objectified. However, it should be noted that this objectification is often framed very differently, and often the male characters who are objectified have much more complex writing behind them than many female characters.
3. I don’t care if men are or aren’t bothered by fan service for women. That isn’t what we are talking about here. Their apathy does not negate our complaints.
I like this “you can’t criticize Harem anime for being sexist! It’s sexist on PURPOSE. I mean, showing women as sex objects: That’s the whole point! So you can’t get mad at it for being sexist.” argument
Like, oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize I could only criticize things that are accidentally sexist. Deliberate sexism is, apparently, fine.
I’m so tired of wack ass nail decals
talk to me when you can make my nails look like usagi in transformation
(Source: uiharuuu)
“ My idea of feminism is self-determination, and it’s very open-ended: every woman has the right to become herself, and do whatever she needs to do. ”
Ani Difranco (via autoasphyxia)
celebrating The Freak I #queer
Luciano and Lunga live in Alex and Tembisa. They identify as both male and female. While the way they express their gender and their sexual orientation could get them beaten and/or raped and/or killed, they choose to be themselves, to “celebrate The Freak”.
