thinkin about... the phenomenon of m/m content primarily produced & consumed by wlw... i really don't think the primary motivation here is fetishization - i think it's often a combo of "a fantasy in which men are kind" and "a fantasy in which misogyny is not a question"

something about... a complete lack of surveillance - there IS no margaret atwood "woman with a man inside watching a woman" in reading/writing m/m bc there's no woman to surveil

i also think - ESPECIALLY in ships/universes in which western machismo masculinity is important - eg any supernatural ship - it's a fantasy in which men r gentle to each other although they ordinarily are not

Lesbians Writing Men In Lesbian Relationships

also also, in that same vein: "fantasy in which men have rich inner lives" although they ordinarily do not

Not To Be A M*sandrist

anyway. i do think it boils down to perhaps the last vestiges of compulsory heterosexuality... fantasy in which men don't utterly repulse me

If I Write About A Man Finding Another Man Attractive It Tricks The Compulsory Heterosexuality Goblin In My Brain Into Shutting Up