Romance Novels and the Empowerment of Women

By Alyssa J. Montgomery

Smart, savvy, articulate and empowered women read and write romance books that reflect cultural shifts, and arguably contribute to cultural shifts. Some "feminists" argue that romances are harmful to the empowerment of our gender, while others say romance novels have helped women evolve. I guess it depends on how one defines feminism and feminist values. I assert that the heroine's happiness is pivotal to the modern romance novel and her needs - whatever they may be - are prioritised and supported and that this is a feminist ideal.

Image Courtesy of Pixabay.com

I believe the huge popularity of the romance genre, written mostly by women for women, stems from the values in the novels resonating with female readership, being a fabulous platform for promoting open discussions about love and relationships and because they celebrate feminine power and success in a way that's very culturally relevant.

Romances focus on issues that are important to women. Our stories deal with all sorts of hard-hitting issues that modern women face - rape, abuse, loss of children... Name a problem and there'll be a romance book which features a heroine who's faced it. The message to female readers is that we're strong and capable of determining our own futures. We possess inner grit to endure and prevail over hardships.

Image courtesy of Pixabay.com

Romance novels define what women and men expect of and will accept in a romantic relationship. Important messages are sent to female readers, not least of all is that a woman deserves a partner who'll respect and value her and what's important to her, and who'll treat her well. Messages in our romance novels seep into the very fabric of our society - that career women can still be attractive to men, that women can have a work-life-family-love balance and that there are plenty of men who appreciate the strength women have to balance different facets of their lives in order to achieve their goals.

Image Courtesy of Pixabay

Then there's the whole issue of sexuality. Romances promote sexually liberated heroines who seek sexual pleasure without hang-ups or fear of judgement. Gone are the days when nice young women didn't know or talk about sex. Modern romances don't rate the heroine's chief virtue as being her virginity. The sexual revolution hit and romance novels began to portray women as having sex outside marriage. This validated the choice many had already made, and perhaps broadcast to other women that it was okay to follow suit.

Heroines in modern romances are unapologetically sexual creatures who know how to communicate their needs and find a partner who can fulfil them. Social stigmas and traditional relationships are being overturned in place of new models of relationships including menage, BDSM, lesbian romance and more.

Image Courtesy of Pixabay

Love to Love: Living in this time and embracing my feminism.

Love to Laugh: At the ridiculous, ill-informed commentary written by those who call romance novels "trashy".

Love to Learn: What do you think? Have romances impacted upon the empowerment of women, is it the other way around or is it a two-way process?