Why girls read yaoi/shonen ai manga?

Hello, I'm doing a research about shojo manga and now I would like to write something about yaoi because in the last years this genre of manga is becoming very popular among the girls but I would like to know why xD I have found several assay but I can't find any answer. Can you help me? ^^

BTW I'm a gay boy!

Yaoi can be seen as the ultimate forbidden fruit romance. The girls and guys do not like it for the blatant sexual aspect, but instead a rare side of men being romantic. My boyfriend and I are Yaoi-fans. You don't need to be gay to like Yaoi. Plenty of straight men and gay women like it. And usually for the same reason.

Another reason: "Anime male characters are usually much better than the annoying female ones."

I think it is comparable with how some straight men get turned on by the idea of two women together. Except perhaps women tend to be more into the more subtle emotional romance than just seeing people getting it on? two for the price of one I guess! human sexuality is much more complicated than we are expected to believe.

@Sam: I don't know any straight man who reads yaoi, on the other hand I know girls who read them. Maybe I can try to tell them the question but my first look is for the japanese girls. In some assay I have read that one of the reason they read yaoi is to eiminate power structure between couples of different genders and the second reason is that they are free from the dangers inherent in heterosexual sex (pregnancy, family's duties, etc). Last but not less important the fact that girls can identify with them (the boys) because of their feminine appearance, marked with ectomorphic bodies, huge eyes and long hair.
Can this be true?

Yeah a lot of times we feel like there would be more equality in a same sex relationship than a straight relationships. It seems in straight relationships guys don't understand why us gals feel the need to protect our selves and our dignity. They think we are just being selfish when they are the ones being needy and selfish.

Some of us girls have real anxiety about sex and this is the only kind where that is not a problem.

It makes us a bit conflicted because we are not attracted to girls so we can't just switch so as not to deal with that. I am also aware that us girls are no pick-nick either so I would not date one.

rawble rawble rawble rawble!!! LOL!!!

What is there not to like? It's heaven watching 2 hot guys being all hot and sweaty togheter. We girls will then squee, drool and fangirling all we like. Especially when the mangaka does some fanservices and ZOOM IN! *nose bleed* x_x Think of the forbidden fruit. We are the Eva's and yaoi is the apple with the hidden snake. And the knowlegde that it's not really appropriate gives us a rush. It's like hidding your porn under the bed! For me yaoi is an exciting dark secret that no one should know about (accept when I convert other girls into yaoi followers kaakakak!)

Among these women there are also women with sons and husband that read yaoi/shonen ai ??

I apologize for my English T_T

Ofcorz. I know some who even drag their husband into reading yaoi. Don't know about son(s) though. I've never heard of moms who show their son(s) their yaoi collection. I'd hide it away and let my son (when I have one) mantain a good image of me :p It will be awkward when we have to explain stuff like that to our boy(s). It's like explaining what sex is or where do babies come from I guess XD

This is really interesting!! I'm serious! And I have another question! Which is the different between Boys Love (BS)/Shonen Ai and Yaoi ??

Yaoi is hardcore stuff including all kinds of fetishes. Don't touch it unless you're prepared and not underage ;) Boylove/shounen ai is soft, love stories without much (or any) sex in it. Mostly kisses, holding hands and hugs etc.

I believe it is because girls often try to compare themselves to the girls in shoujo manga or romance manga. But in yaoi manga there is no girl in the relationship to be compared to. This often makes yaoi manga enjoyable to read.

I read yaoi manga all the time [oops LOL] and I know of alot of my cosplay friends[girls] who also read them. It is basically like what someone said,most of the time in shoujo mangas,the female lead is whiny and annoying.In yaoi manga,even if the uke[aka the ''bottom''?] is tsundere/whiny,sometimes we still find it cute for some reason ^^.

However I think shoujo and yaoi can be kinda alike cause alot of the yaoi mangas I read,the ukes look like girls/have feminine looks but I still prefer them over most shoujo manga girls.

@ Rockshow

Yaoi is more like um hardcore/more explict? While Shonen ai is like somewhat innocent/pure love with just slight kissing ^^