Izuku is such a weird character when it comes to a shonen fandom, bc not only do his stans and antis completely misunderstand and fanonize his character, but they also end up pushing misogyny and homophobia onto him too.
On one hand, you have Izuku the smol boy. He needs to be protective, he’s nurturing, etc. overall he posses more “feminine” traits bc people want to fit him into a specific gay stereotype. Sometimes people even mix this up by making him more “feral”, when people knowingly make him ooc, but end up actually making him MORE accurate than if he was the former. Because to them, gay men fit into two boxes: mean/creepy (Katsuki, todoroki, etc.) or nice/feminine. They view him and many other gay people as simple cookie cut out stereotypes that were a mixture of fandom culture and also propaganda going back decades in the US.
They don’t view him as a full fledged hero, nor a capable man and human being. Someone who is responsible for his own actions, masculine, etc. because if they actually did see his full CHARACTER, they could no longer see him as the gay stereotype they want him to be. People want to have heteronormative dynamics and relationships, someone always has to be the “woman” or “man” in the relationship. Regardless of the actual gender they are, they need to fulfill an agenda. And because deku cries a lot or was bullied and is often seen as weak in the story, he is automatically the woman in the relationship. It stems from both misogyny and homophobia.
But bkdk CONSISTENTLY defy that! They are defined by their masculinity. It’s seen as something positive to be, and dekus constant crying is never inherently seen in the story as feminine. I’ve seen time and time again where gay relationships/people are pushed into a certain role in a heterosexual relationship they are supposed to fill. Take Robin from stranger things. Now, I love Robin, don’t get me wrong, but the first time that we see IN OUR FACE that she is openly a lesbian and attracted to a woman, it’s with Steve. Steve is fine, sure, but the problem is that steve presents an immediate heteronormative narrative in the first episode of season 4. Going on and on about how boobs are great and that it’s not a bad thing to just say boobs, but this is child’s play. This feels inherently *heterosexual*. I’m a gay trans man, so idk if I can voice this for anyone, so I’ll just screenshot my sisters response.
(She’s awesome, love her to death. Really fucking intelligent too)
This heteronormative narrative that the mha fandom continuously tries to push is the same one that the duffer brothers use. Wills character has kinda been reduced to the fact that he pines for a man he can’t have, once again pushing a character into a female or a male in the relationship. Usually the lesbian or gay one.
This rule has exceptions of course, like Luz is reduced by her fandom as the masculine one. Which is not only rooted in homophobia/misogyny but also racism. Or raine as a nb character in a sapphic relationship being put into a more feminine role because Eda has already fit that narrative according to the fandom.
But it doesn’t change the fact that Izuku is not a “feminine” man. They want him to fulfill a role in their smut as the bottom in the relationship, he has to be sexual, etc. because if he isn’t, then they have to see him as a full PERSON. Izuku possesses “masculine” traits. He has the worst sense of style, has anger issues, gets a little nervous around girls, likes heroics (something that’s been established as being seen as “masculine” in the show), is a bit creepy, etc. and people seem to throw these traits out the window in fics or other media.
These are just a few things you see when you look up bkdk ALONE! There’s more too! These are full on adults a lot of the time too! Sexualizing a character that hardly looks mature either. It’s weird and entirely rooted in homophobia and misogyny.
And on the other hand, you have the dudebros. People who entirely believe that there is no way Izuku is gay in any light and disrespect anyone who does. On top of that they completely erase and or make fun of his more “feminine” traits in favor of pushing more masculine ones. They will erase any characters queer coding and call anyone weird for having a head cannon about a character.
They fully believe that Izuku should be a “real man” and beat up Katsuki, maybe tell him off, etc. because they too want him to fulfill a role in toxic masculinity no matter HOW MUCH this show calls it out! A lot of Katsuki’s character is based in toxic masculinity alone with deku’s. When deku bottles up his emotions like what he’s “supposed to do”, people think it’s normal or character development even.
They entirely lack both literary analytical skills and basic knowledge on the character you’re looking at. “Manga deku” does not exist. It was his vigilante arc and from start to finish it was never good. The story itself shows that this did nothing but hurt deku and almost kill him.
This is, once again, rooted in homophobic and misogynistic stereotypes and make an assumption of a main character based on other shonen animes. Deku is not allowed to be a crybaby or he’ll show emotions, Izuku is not allowed to have too close relationships with other male characters or it is a detriment to his female love interest, or even that Izuku is not allowed to ask for help in his battle with shigaraki. Even though, pushing the people he lives away was the entire reason all might and nana failed.
So, what, the point is that mha’s community on all sides is misogynistic and homophobic? PRECISELY. No matter which angle I’ve looked at any shonen community there is always always always at least half of the fandom consists of people who have zero clue how a gay relationship works. That it’s different from a straight relationship. And the fact that horikoshi is really leaning into the direction of bkdk being canon I’m gonna say that he’s well aware of this and wants to break it. Show a couple that is defined by their homosexuality rather than wrapped in a thin sheet of “heteronormativity” like many other shows choose to do. Namely, shows written by non queer people. Like the duffer brothers.
I only hope for the best when it comes to these two. They’ll definitely be a symbol far bigger than the mha community. Maybe even something for the queer anime community as a whole. And I’ll fucking love it if it happens.
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