Fandom question: Why genderbend?

[fresica]

Alright, so, earlier I got totally sucked into a Torchwood genderbend WIP, and when I finished, I started thinking about how popular the genderbend genre is. I mean, I know I'm not the only one who has clicked through the genderfuck tags, nor the first to leap on a fic that turns one of our boys (from whatever fandom) into a girl

Comments

[alaana_fair]

Argh... it's the one genre I really don't like. I don't mind them dressing up as girls, or even growing girl bits to procreate, but I still want them to be MEN. Otherwise, yeah, what's the point. I should be reading Draco/Astoria. Blah. :-D So no, I've never understood the reasoning behind it.

The only one close was Jolene by romaine, but even then, Draco was definitely a man - at least part of the time. *G*

[randomb33]

I'm with you on pretty much everything. Genderbend has never really pulled my strings, and I doubt it ever will. And Jolene was amazing. I've read it at least three times through. *g*

[alaana_fair]

Agreed! I know some people classify it as a genderbender, but I never really saw it as such.

Of course there are some funny ones where one or the other gets turned into a girl by a potion - but then the idea us usually how to get them back to normal and their personality never changes... I guess I don't think of those as genderbenders either. *G* Although, I suppose they technically are. I guess if it's humor, it's okay. :-D

[randomb33]

Erk, you're reading my mind or something! I do like genderbending as a plot device, but only to build some lovely tension between the boys. 9/10 times they start out fighting over their manly dignity and loss thereof and end up playing tonsil hockey, I've learned.

[fresica]

Ooh, Jolene. I adore that fic to a ridiculous degree. I say any genderbending in that was done off-screen, with the potion use before the narration begins.

I'm a fan of the genre, but I can't even explain why to myself...

[lovesmymovement]

Alaana, you make me laugh. XD

I don't mind them dressing up as girls, or even growing girl bits to procreate... LOL!

[alaana_fair]

*G* Hehee... I guess as long as they keep their adam's apple, I'm good. :-D

[fresica]

LOL That made me choke on my cracker... ^^;

[isinuyasha]

I totaslly agree =) But I expected that again xD I could read Harry/Ginny if I liked it.
I think it just doesn't fit into any reason why I like slash so I really try to avoid reading it =) Except when it's for fun and they don't do anything with the additional parts^^

[spacefragments]

Argh... it's the one genre I really don't like. I don't mind them dressing up as girls, or even growing girl bits to procreate, but I still want them to be MEN.

this (well, except for the growing girl bits to have babies part.) i'll read it for humor/crack purposes, but other than that... meh. to me they're not really the same characters.

i've read a few fics that dealt with characters being transsexual, but... i don't feel they have that much in common.

*comment to the post in general* now i'm wondering if genderswitching is similarly popular in femslash or het ships.

[fresica]

now i'm wondering if genderswitching is similarly popular in femslash or het ships.
I've wondered the same thing. But all of my fandom time is devoted to slash, so I don't know.