Yaoi, also known as "Boys' Love," is a popular female-oriented romantic fiction genre in China. This study examines how Chinese women construct their yaoi fandom. In particular, this study addresses how "Boys' Love" romance enables female fans to make their own meanings and develop their ideological perspectives.

Four themes emerged from 15 in-depth interviews with yaoi fans, who articulated their experiences and practices surrounding this genre. The findings suggest that 1) yaoi fandom empowers female readers to place a voyeuristic gaze upon men; 2) fans appropriate Boys' Love texts to reinforce their desire for idealized heterosexual romance; 3) fans enjoy the pleasures of relaxation and escape through consuming yaoi; 4) and fans experience their yaoi fandom by interacting with other fans at both online and offline levels, and both collectively and individualistically.