The Beauty of Shoujo Romance

Shoujo romance is a genre of manga that is near and dear to my heart. I've been reading stories like these for over a decade now. But why are they so special? And what power do they have to make you giddly kick your feet on demand?

Copy Editor:
Cassidy Moulton

0:00 Intro
1:51 Intimacy in Shoujo
2:56 A Sign of Affection
4:10 What Sets Shoujo Romance Apart
4:53 Empathy Driven Storytelling
5:35 Furare Girl
6:52 Introspective Dialogue
7:44 Futari de Koi wo Suru Riyuu Spoilers
8:06 Introspective Dialogue
9:02 Defining the Two Gazes
10:13 The Male Gaze
11:04 The Feminine Gaze
12:27 The Gazed Gaze
13:37 Why People May Dislike Shoujo
15:12 Outro

REFERENCES:
Shoujo Across Media by Jaqueline Berndt
The Female Gaze
The Male Gaze
Feminine Gaze & Transformative Stories
Joey Soloway on the Female Gaze

SOCIAL MEDIA:
SUPPORT ME ON KO-FI:

[WitandFolly]

I love this and I'm so glad you broke down Joey's points for Shoujo! Such an awesome analysis.

[scrawnysquirtle]

“what’s so wrong with a form of media that makes women feel desired, but not objectified?” this has to be my new favorite video from you! 😭💕

[carogueva]

"What's so wrong with a form of media that makes woman feel desired but not objectified?"
THIS! This is one of the best ways to describe why we enjoy these stories! Thank you for all of your hard work and for continuing to make videos like this ❤️

[KristynRene.]

Shoujo romance helps me to break out of the Depression numbness by feeling giddy or giggly while reading. It is so near and dear to my heart, I need more of it and publishers need to listen up. I work at a bookstore and the two displays near the manga section are Romance and Shoujosei. They do so well in selling what's on the tables. There is an audience for this manga demographic! I even watched a young boy go excitedly grab "Whisper Me a Love Song" from the Romance table and the action was so innocent and precious. Even boys read Shoujo! So give us more, publishers!

[projectmessiah]

Shoujo romance does a great job exploring the mentality of its characters and creating absolutely enthralling slice of life scenarios.

[crisziz]

When shoujo does it right, it's a great look into how such simple words, events, touch, etc ends up creating such complex feelings and relationship dynamics. Intimacy, loneliness, the definition of "want" vs "need".

[hopeusthedopest]

Me: I don’t know how to explain it, but shoujo romance just hits different
Colleen: give me 16 minutes and 46
seconds
Another well-researched, eloquently explained, and entertaining video❤

[jadaw]

It's crazy how 'wish fulfillment' for women boils down to being seen as people with desires and a need for deep connections as opposed to just boobs and a cute face as shounen often treats them. Even crazier that the medium is looked down on for daring to be that.

[clashwithwords]

Shoujo romance often feels like a little treat from the mundane, or stressful parts of life and to be frank - it’s helped me understand my own thoughts, and emotions better even as an adult. I’m also someone who is quite happy and loved in my relationship (which is a first for me 😅), and often I connect to what the mc expresses both the good, bad, and maybe the in between or unknown. Characters just often feel very human, and I love that. Or maybe they just feel human in the way that desire to be.

When I finish a great series, or even a great chapter, I feel stronger or maybe just slightly more confident. I feel that I can take bits of a story and apply it to my own life and I’m always grateful to mangaka for that.

[AReadsManga]

THIS! I think a lot of people don’t understand that ecchi/seinen romances aren’t adequate substitute for a good shojo for this specific reason! Yearning for the emotional closeness of getting to know someone and letting yourself open for them to see is exactly why we love shojo! It is the best part of romance. Readers of more action based manga may find this boring, but to shojo fans, that’s the main event.❤ That was a lovely video, Colleen! Would be interested in making a shojo recommendation video at some point? Like - if you like this, you may like this title?

[drawlynnfaves]

i'm a lesbian that always, always loved shoujo and dating sims despite most of them being hetero... might be because the relationships in those always felt so much more safe to explore regardless of the sexualities, and the men would tend to feel pretty feminine. but even regardless of that they're just great stories and i love when you can empathize with the main characters and cry for them

[willowwillow]

I'm a lesbian but shoujo romance has always provided me with so much joy and comfort. It has some of the best written romance ever

[SanaTT]

as an oblivious aromantic teen I loved shojou so much. it helped me understand love better. the focus on those subtle physicalities was sush a huge bridge. I kinda moved on from shojou but it still has a big place in my heart

[alanathomas]

“Desired, but not objectified.” Boom. You nailed it girl.

[pattongilbert]

A Sign of Affection makes my heart so warm and fuzzy when I read it.☺️ I’m a guy, and I still can’t help but squeal and do the little “eye blink/head shake thing” when reading such sweet, beautiful, adorable stories.💕
Shojo series are so cool.☺️

[michaelwillerjr]

As a black men, I absolutely love shoujo manga and one of my anime/manga of all time is oremonogatari( my love story) imo it so different from other romance shoujo manga/anime; and it’s a reason why it has a strong male following because it doesn’t play in typical shoujo show it subverts them.

Reasons-

1. The MC isn’t handsome or pretty boy( which is probably why man don’t shoujo lol)

2. Feels invisible to girls at his school compared to his bestfriend( millions of boys irl feel this way)

3. People judge him base off his looks and what he can do for them also not ask for anything in return ( most men feel like people love them for what they do and not who they are as a person.)

4. Protector and supporter( he’s willing to make sacrifices for his family and friends)

5. Compassionate and empathetic ( willingness to look inwards and respect others opinions)

6. He’s himself ( most young men and boys struggle with this until they get older in life but he has my respect.)

7. He respect women( he doesn’t tolerate misogyny of any kind, respect).

Keep up the videos much love and respect.

[charmainearongay]

I am floored, because no one, literally NO ONE ELSE, in YouTube or in real life, has made me feel more seen in my taste of manga.

I'm gasping at every reference you bring up, I'm excitedly nodding my head at the points you bring up. I'm giddy just knowing that others have felt the same doki dokis that I've had.

It just feels so good to have a space in the anime community to not make me feel like I'm boring or vapid for loving shoujo romance.

I don't know man. I just, feel so vindicated.
So thank you very much Colleen for giving me this feeling.
I'm two days late so pretty sure you'll never see this, but thanks lol

[tatyanaviznyak]

The intimate bubble that the protaginists of A Sign of Affection created around each other was a beautiful experience. Out of any romance I've read to date, this was the one that I felt the deepest. I cannot wait for more volumes.
Thank you for the amazing video. My respect for the genre seems to grow after each one you make.

[strawberrysunshines]

10/10 video I...wow. I've never been able to quite put my finger on what exactly sets shoujo romance apart from seinen romance, other than a general "vibe". You perfectly explained what gives shoujo that vibe that we all love about it!

[sunnysodapop]

I just want you to know you are literally my LIFELINE. I felt like I was going crazy about Shoujo and romance declining and being hated on for misogynistic reasons until your channel confirmed every thought and voice and opinion I've had thus far. Thank you.