A feminist analysis of Ouran High School Host Club, presented at Anime Boston 2013

1. Feminist Perspectives:
Ouran High School Host Club
Allison Wilhelm
Anime Boston 2013

2. Just so we’re clear:
• Yes, I know it’s from Japan
• Yes, I know a woman wrote it
• Yes, I know that this show is a comedy
and meant to be satire
• No, I don’t hate the series

3. The Mary Sue says:
• "When you think about it, this series is
remarkably queer -- not only do the school’s
women absolutely fawn over Haruhi, the entire
premise of a host club seems to disrupt the male
gaze. In this universe women gaze at men and
masculine women. Furthermore, when the hosts
clamour to win Haruhi’s heart, she’s often still in
masculine clothing, queering the desires of her
straight male counterparts."

4. First Episode
• Doesn’t establish that Haruhi is a girl up
front
• Pokes fun of male archetypes in shojo
anime
• “I hate all these damn rich people”
• Haruhi doesn’t seem to care about her
appearance, doesn’t care about attracting
girls, or guys for that matter.

7. Bechdel Test?
• Used to determine whether women are
well represented – usually applied to
movies
• Test had 3 questions:
– Does it have at least two women with names?
– Do the two women have a conversation with
each other?
– Do they have a conversation about something
other than a man?

8. Internalized Misogyny
• AKA “girl bashing,” often manifests itself
as garbage like this:

14. Radical Feminism
• Patriarchal society is inherently oppressive
to women
• Seek to overthrow the patriarchy; typically
find sexism in many social institutions
• “The Woman-Identified Woman” – argued
that lesbianism was essential to women’s
liberation.

15. Intersectional Feminism
Gender
Race
SexualityClass
Gender Identity

16. LGBTQ Representation
• Is anyone on the show really gay or
transgender?
• Does is matter?
• Should gay characters be “out” to the
audience?

18. Liberal Feminism
• Focus on legal and political rights
• Also associated with “choice feminism,” or
the notion that women should do whatever
they want (even if it supports patriarchal
expectations of women)

19. The End
Questions? Comments?