The majority of authors and readers of romance are women. The Romance Genre is treated unfairly, as is the case with everything that women find enjoyable, like fashion or Taylor Swift. These activities are viewed as less important than far more worthwhile hobbies like cars and sports. (note the sarcasm)
Although I have nothing against cars or sports, I find it annoying that a Swiftie is deemed cringe-worthy while a sports fanatic is not. The Devil Wears Prada, as well as the Swifties, present compelling cases for Fashion and Taylor. In general, romance fiction is not given the same respect as other genres, so allow me to offer my two cents.
I am willing to wager that men who enjoy romance are even more embarrassed to admit it. Here are some arguments made against romance novels, arguments that make people feel bad about reading and appreciating romance.
- They are predictable.
- Stick to the same tropes.
- Sets unrealistic standards.
- Offers an idealized and unrealistic vision of what love is.
- Do not have suspense.
To start with, guys who read romance novels—you guys are incredible, you have nothing to be ashamed of, and I have a whole battalion of people behind me when I say that.
Undoubtedly, those novels are predictable in that the protagonists will eventually reconcile; in fact, if there were not a happy ending, the work would be classified as a tragedy rather than a romance. However, the story is really about the characters’ journey to that point and how they overcome obstacles because, as we all know, love ultimately triumphs over all.
You read a murder mystery because you want to know “how?” even though you know the killer will be apprehended in the end. What is wrong with being predictable? It is consoling to know that, despite how remote the real world is from the world of books, love is triumphant somewhere. Life is unpredictable enough as it is, so there is no harm in reading a predictable romance novel. Predictability is not always a bad thing; in fact, it can be comforting. How can novels about love be stigmatized?
Even though it contains the same clichés, every time the reader experiences one of these clichés they get giddy and happy because they can relate to the character and realize that they will not get that in real life, so they enjoy books instead; why should they feel guilty or ridiculed for indulging in something so harmless? If reading books makes them happy, helps them unwind and escape—and by them, I mean a lot of people—then what is wrong with that?
In the harsh reality of the real world, anything that can make people happy is worth having.
Does it impose unrealistic standards? I find it hard to believe that basic needs like understanding, support, caring, respect, and not cheating can be unreasonable to expect from a romantic partner. These needs are not unrealistic; on the contrary, they are necessary for a healthy relationship. Yes, the physical characteristics may be unrealistic, but then, women are just as unrealistic as the Greek gods with their blue eyes and six feet tall stature. In general, women are Goddesses if the men are Greek Gods, so there is no need to worry about anyone imposing such standards.
Does it create an idealized picture of love? There is a good reason for that—it is fiction. The reader’s responsibility is to realize that what occurs in the books is not real. But if someone is naive enough to believe in the kind of love they portray, life will either give them a dose of reality—which is very likely to happen—or something that looks like that kind of love—which is unlikely to happen.
However, as was already mentioned, that is precisely why it is fiction—people go there to escape reality. The genre cannot be written off as a whole because some readers might begin to believe things that are not realistic.
The truth is, as I will explain to you, that romance fiction gives women a voice to express what they think they deserve, what they want, and, in the case of steamy novels, what they want in private. Naturally, people find this offensive, or more often than not, they do not take it seriously.
That, my friends, is misogyny, wrapped up in the arguments I mentioned above.
Romance books typically feature a female lead, despite her imperfections. The male character serves as the romantic interest.
People find it hard to accept that the woman in the book resolves the conflicts and problems, and the guy helps; that is little Ms. Misogyny talking.
The Romance genre, of course, contains misogynistic elements, but that is a topic for another post.
The point of contention is that, while romance has its shortcomings, all genres have them.
So the verdict is, live and let live, It is absolutely fine if you don’t enjoy reading Romance, I, myself prefer it as a sub-plot, though I wouldn’t be completely opposed to Indulging in a cute romantic comedy, but my loves, don’t go at people’s throats for enjoying a perfectly harmless piece of fiction, and give it the respect it deserves for the joy and peace it brings to so many people around the world.
Romance deserves even more respect for empowering women, providing them with a platform to express how they want to be treated, and giving men tips on how to get the girl and keep her happy. They will quickly realize that women are not complex at all. 😜
That’s all.
With loads of love,
A Fellow Bookworm
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