Romance Novels
As many of you know, I am a big sucker for trashy, cheesy, contemporary romance novels. Well, since I'm out of school, I began reading again and I've realized that they are predictable and kind of gender biased. That English class I took really opened my eye to those kind of things.
Well, first of all, they all have the same characters: A strong single woman who doesn't need a man and a tough guy who's "been around the block" and doesn't think he will ever settle down. While, they look differently, have different jobs, live in different places, etc. the characters are pretty much always the same.
And the storyline is always the same as well. Starts out with two people who meet and can't take their eyes off each other and the sexual tension rises and they have some reason why they can't "get together." Finally they decide that one time would be ok. They get it on (in explicit detail)...and again...meanwhile, something bad is going on. They decide that maybe they should start dating. They have a big fight and end it. Then, she gets kidnapped and held at gunpoint or something and all she can think about is him. He comes to her rescue and they both admit they're in love. It ends with them happily together, usually engaged or married.
But, although she is an "independent woman", she cannot get out of the bad situation without a man. In a genre written by women for women this gender bias is ridiculous! You could say that they are written based on "traditional" gender roles, but that doesn't explain why they build the women to be strong and independent in the beginning. They show that the woman cannot be happy without a man.
I'm not saying that I don't believe in romance, because I think we all know that's not true. I don't claim to be an independent woman at all...I'm the kind of girl that would be happy being a housewife and stay at home mom with a prince charming to provide for and protect me. But I think that romance novels shouldnt pretend to be pro-women's power and then show women as helpless and weak.
I'll still read them, but I think we need to think about what we're reading and even though we like it, take it with a grain of salt, even if it is fiction. Also, women need to realize that they can be independent and love a man....
Well, first of all, they all have the same characters: A strong single woman who doesn't need a man and a tough guy who's "been around the block" and doesn't think he will ever settle down. While, they look differently, have different jobs, live in different places, etc. the characters are pretty much always the same.
And the storyline is always the same as well. Starts out with two people who meet and can't take their eyes off each other and the sexual tension rises and they have some reason why they can't "get together." Finally they decide that one time would be ok. They get it on (in explicit detail)...and again...meanwhile, something bad is going on. They decide that maybe they should start dating. They have a big fight and end it. Then, she gets kidnapped and held at gunpoint or something and all she can think about is him. He comes to her rescue and they both admit they're in love. It ends with them happily together, usually engaged or married.
But, although she is an "independent woman", she cannot get out of the bad situation without a man. In a genre written by women for women this gender bias is ridiculous! You could say that they are written based on "traditional" gender roles, but that doesn't explain why they build the women to be strong and independent in the beginning. They show that the woman cannot be happy without a man.
I'm not saying that I don't believe in romance, because I think we all know that's not true. I don't claim to be an independent woman at all...I'm the kind of girl that would be happy being a housewife and stay at home mom with a prince charming to provide for and protect me. But I think that romance novels shouldnt pretend to be pro-women's power and then show women as helpless and weak.
I'll still read them, but I think we need to think about what we're reading and even though we like it, take it with a grain of salt, even if it is fiction. Also, women need to realize that they can be independent and love a man....