When talking about shonen manga, many people automatically associate them with a male audience, but a recent study has shown that women are also big fans of this genre. The report reveals surprising data about the female audience’s preference for stories full of action, adventure and charismatic characters.
Shonen breaks barriers: More and more women are reading shonen
The study was based on surveys and sales data in different markets, and the results show that a large portion of female readers consume shonen manga with enthusiasm. Works such as One Piece, Naruto, Jujutsu Kaisen and Attack on Titan have a huge fan base, something that may seem surprising to some, but actually makes a lot of sense.
Within the top five most popular anime among female respondents, My Hero Academia ranked as the most consumed, while Dragon Ball was the least followed by the female audience. This data highlights the evolution of the genre and how certain narratives manage to better capture the interest of female readers.
Apparently, the appeal of shonen for women is not limited to just the action. Many female readers have noted that they love the character development, interpersonal relationships and world-building in these stories. In addition, the protagonists are often charismatic and determined, which generates a strong emotional connection with the audience, regardless of gender.
Women enjoy shonen manga for a variety of reasons. The characters are often appealing and well-built, with stories of self-improvement that make them interesting to all types of audiences. Exciting and dynamic plots generate a high level of immersion, getting female readers hooked quickly. Although the main focus of demographics is not usually romance, friendship and camaraderie play a crucial role in many stories, appealing to a wider audience. In addition, it is increasingly common to see powerful and independent women in shonen, which has further boosted their popularity among female readers.
The idea that shonen is only for boys has been changing over time. Publishers and manga creators have taken note of this phenomenon and have begun to further diversify their stories, offering characters and plots that can appeal to different types of audiences, and thanks to different platforms, you can find many of these series on Netflix or Crunchyroll.
In addition, nowadays, there are many women involved in the creation of shonen manga, such as Hiromu Arakawa who created the wonderful story of Fullmetal Alchemist story that for many is one of the best in its genre, also Kazue Kato author of Blue Exorcist or Shinobu Ohtaka who is the creator of the magical story Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic, just to mention a few mangakas.
This study confirms what many anime and manga fans already knew: shonen is not exclusive to a single gender. Women have been and will continue to be a fundamental part of the success of these types of stories. So, the next time someone says that shonen is only for boys, just remind them that the numbers and passion of female readers tell a completely different story.
