On the topic of appropriating Japanese terms, we seriously need to talk about other ways the selfship community should adress racism. Even if you don't call yourself a yumeshipper or whatever, you need to think about whether you're creating a space for nonwhite selfshippers to feel comfortable in. Here are some things to think about.
For selfshippers in general:
How do you portray your F/Os? Are your Asian F/Os always made to be the submissive or shy ones of the relationship, regardless of their canon personality? Inversely, is it only the Black/brown F/Os that you always make to be the dominant or aggressive?
If your F/O comes from a nonwhite culture, do you exoticize them for it?
Do you draw your F/Os of color with lighter skin, thinner noses, straighter hair, and/or other whitewashed features then canon?
Do you have or know someone whose F/O is canonically bigoted and if so, why is that something you're willing to overlook? This is such a common occurence and even selfshippers who refuse to call themselves pro/dark/comshippers seem to be completely fine with it, whether they're the ones doing the selfshipping or have mutuals who do so. Claiming "they're redeemed in my canon" doesn't change anything if it's obstensively the same name, design, personality and backstory.
For those making imagines:
Those classic "imagine your F/O running their fingers through your hair" imagines: Are you assuming the reader has straight hair by default? On a similar note, does the way you describe hair length equate it to gender/gender presentation?
When describing the reader or their F/Os blushing, please remember not every skin tone can have red rosy cheeks. Most of us don't even look like we're blushing!
When making a "generic winter themed" imagine/ask game/etc, are you actually just describing Christmas without describing Christmas?* Honestly I'd rant about this more but it isn't winter where I live.
On a similar note, what may be summer for me right now is actually winter in the southern hemisphere and vice versa! Consider imagines for that, as well as wet/dry seasons for those around the equator*
As for how you can help selfshippers of color:
REBLOG ART. REBLOG FANFICTIONS. FOLLOW PEOPLE!! This is the easiest and best way to support selfshippers of color. Don't know where to begin? I highly reccomend following @dreamersofcolor
Speaking out on serious issues has to come before personal comfort. I know it's easy to want to make your blog "discourse-free", but staying quiet when you know something is wrong is enabling it.
Okay I'm not gonna get over this: Do not make any room for selfshippers with racist F/Os or who otherwise treat the topic as inconsequential. It may be "just fiction", but for many of us, being forced to be around racists is what daily life looks like.
And then of course:
If someone points out that you've said or done something racist, stop and think: Are you going to sound like that "yeah I'm racist but you're mean and that's worse" meme in your response? If so, don't say anything beyond "sorry I'll fix that", actually work towards fixing your behavior, and move on.
*I know race, religion and what country you live in are different things, however they still tie into the selfship community being Anglo-centric.
