[meta] the appeal of genderswap

[escritoireazul]

I've been thinking about this for awhile, because so much genderswap coming across my flist in SPN fandom, specifically Winsister. I really don't understand why, though in some ways, it makes more sense to me that it would happen in SPN, where there is a distinct lack of female characters. (Though there are some awesome ones, but that's for another discussion.) Then there was this post looking for femslash perspectives on genderswap.

Now I'm curious. What do you like about genderswap? What don't you like? Do you have an opinion on it?

I'm not being flip, I'm really curious about this. So far, I've just not seen the appeal, but I want to understand it.

Comments

[poisontaster]

I don't have any special yen for genderswap; I've written exactly one genderswap for a remix, I have one languishing in WIPs...but for me, it's like any other AU.

Change one key factor and see what else changes with it. The dynamic between any two characters changes if one of them is changed in some fundamental way. So what form does that change take? What stays the same and what's different? How does that make the characters the same or different?

It's just another form of exploration.

[roseveare.livejournal.com]

I... find it unexplainably hot? Both with male characters to female and female characters to male. Um. I guess it's a kink like any other.

[measuringlife.livejournal.com]

aishuu did a meta on genderswitch over at risingtides I think? There's another perspective to note.

I think in essence the same applies to what I responded to a discussion about transgender issues -- most of us are curious about what'd it be like to be the opposite gender for a day or a week or a month. A lot of people wonder how the orgasms are on the other side, if you will. That's why a lot of genderswitch goes directly to the porn because that's probably what most people WOULD be doing if they woke up male...or female.

Other than that, it's fascinating to see how your favorite pairing or character would be as heterosexual, or lesbian or gay. It can seriously change behavior and dynamic and leads to interesting what-if thoughts. How would they have reacted if this 'forbidden love' type pairing was allowed. Would all the tension be gone, or would it remain completely the same? It's stuff like that that drives people.

On my completely shallow note? I like lesbians and I think it's fun to turn my het and gay pairings into lesbians. Also, the OH GOD I HAVE BREASTS joke makes me laugh every single time

[alixtii.livejournal.com]

I've most often heard it explained as predominately-female fandom taking the objects of fascination which aren't like them (and may fascinate them regardless of the writer's sexual preference precisely because they aren't like them) and working with them by turning them into something they do understand (which doesn't quite defeat the purpose, because then all the interesting stuff which genderswap makes possible can then happen). Alternately, I've heard it described as a vindictive attempt to inflict male characters with the troubles of womanhood, but that's often seen as misogynistic. (Although, right now, as I sit and think about it, I'm not sure how fair that is.)