Status : Verified
| Personal Name | Calpatura, Carla Margareth Fernandez |
|---|---|
| Resource Title | Boys over Borders: A study on Filipino Gen Z fan reception of pan-East Asian soft masculinity as observed in third generation male K-pop idols |
| Date Issued | 8 January 2026 |
| Abstract | The Korean wave, as a transcultural phenomenon, has introduced changes in socio-cultural standards across the world, including perceptions of gender expression. Pan-East Asian soft masculinity (PEASM) has gained more attention, as it impacts a negotiation in ideals of masculinity and gender performance among global audiences. This audience analysis looked into how Filipino Generation Z K-pop fans interpret PEASM, as portrayed by three third generation K-pop idols: Jimin of BTS, and Jun and Jeonghan of Seventeen. This research investigated how the South Korean kkonminam (flower boy) image interacts with the Filipino macho ideal. Six (6) semi-structured interviews with Filipino Gen Z K-pop fans were conducted. Analysis was guided by Judith Butler’s gender performativity, R.W. Connell’s hegemonic masculinity, and Carolyn Michelle’s Composite Multi-dimensional Model of Audience Reception. Fans recognized the tensions in production and wider resistance to kkonminam while exhibiting counter-hegemonic reading positions. For some, it even served as an avenue for the realization of their queer identity. Ultimately, findings revealed that there is a developing generational shift in favor of more nuanced and equitable representations of masculinity in media. |
| Degree Course | BA Broadcast Media Arts and Studies |
| Language | English; Filipino |
| Keyword | pan-East Asian soft masculinity; hegemonic masculinity; gender performativity; Hallyu studies; audience studies; K-pop fans; audience reception |
| Material Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
Preliminary Pages
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Category : F - Regular work, i.e., it has no patentable invention or creation, the author does not wish for personal publication, there is no confidential information.
Access Permission : Open Access