FAQ
What is the Yuri Index?
The Yuri Index is a simple measure of the amount of F/F content in a given fandom, as compared to the amount of M/M content.
How is the Yuri Index calculated?
Why does this matter?
The Yuri Index uses fanfiction on Archive of Our Own to approximate a representative sample of a fandom as a whole. This sample is then filtered to include F/F ships and exclude M/M and F/M ships. The resulting number of fics is then divided by the number of fics that include M/M ships and exclude F/F and F/M ships. This calculation results in the Yuri Index score of a fandom. While I would love to include NB/F and NB/M in the calculation, I currently don't have a feasible way to do this. Same for multishipping including multiple female or male characters. Suggestions on this problem are welcome!
Okay, that's how you get the score, but what does it mean?
The Yuri Index is, essentially, the number of exclusively F/F fics per every exclusively M/M fic. For example, a 1.000 means for every M/M fic there is 1 F/F fic, a 2.000 means there are 2 F/F fics for every M/M fic, and a 0.500 means there are 0.5 F/F fics per M/M fic, or 2 M/M fics per F/F fic.
Fandom, like many other places, has a serious misogyny problem. Female characters are often assumed to be less important, interesting, and complex than male characters, and M/M ships often dominate fandom space as a result. The Yuri Index seeks to draw attention to this problem, as well as direct those who want to find sapphic content to fandoms that feature it heavily.
What is the Yuri Index for [fandom]?
That's what I'm here to find out! Each post is tagged with the associated fandom, but if you can't find it/the tag search function doesn't work, feel free to send an ask with a specific fandom and I'll do the calculation and put up a post. A spreadsheet with the stats for all fandoms currently measured is available here as well.
Can I do anything to help?
Great question! While this is currently a solo project, you can help out by suggesting fandoms, spreading posts, and using them as a jumping off point to discuss the issues I aim to bring attention to. (Askbox is currently closed due to high volume. Suggestions will open again soon).