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Queering the harem: queerness in reverse harem manga and anime

2020; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 12; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/21504857.2020.1821731

2150-4865

Bancha Rattanamathuwong,

Gender Studies in Language

This article discusses the representation of queerness in reverse harem manga/anime. The first part of the article examines the problematic depictions of queer characters in Sensual Phrase by Shinjō Mayu and Fushigi Yûgi by Watase Yuu. My argument is that, although the queer characters in Shinjō's and Watase's works appear to crystallise the notion of gender fluidity, they still reinforce binarism and fixed gender roles. In other words, queerness in these two manga is merely ornamental. These queer characters are only meant to highlight idealised femininity, which is commonly ascribed to female protagonists in shōjo manga and anime. Apart from the two works mentioned, I will also analyse Cardcaptor Sakura, a shōjo manga series by Clamp. I shall contend that, in comparison with the other two works, Cardcaptor Sakura, which contains some elements typically found in the harem genre, proves to be more revolutionary in the way it plays with queerness and gender fluidity. While the characters who epitomise queerness in Cardcaptor Sakura show their love towards the protagonist like other queer or gay characters in the reverse harem genre, these characters gain more autonomy in their romantic pursuit.