Reclaiming Romance
Romance gets a bad rap. (Understatement of the millennium, right?) It’s not only the best-selling genre in the world, these stories are consistently the most groundbreaking in terms of theme, setting, and style. They are predominantly BY and FOR women, a clue into why this genre sits at the center of so much criticism.
Sometimes I can ignore the haters. But sometimes…
Well, my vow of non-violence gets seriously tested.
The derision of Romance novels can be tied directly to the patriarchy, misogyny, and racism we struggle with in society as a whole. (Despite the loud protests otherwise.) From my position inside the industry, it’s clear as day, but I can understand the confusion others may feel.
Is it a naughty pleasure, a shameful habit, a decadent thrill? (Nope, nope, and nope, btw.) When so much of our social programming, consciously or not, leads us to those mis-perceptions, it’s no wonder Romance is the butt of many a societal joke.
In reality, Romance, since its inception, has been on the cutting edge of the publishing industry, a commentary on social, political, and interpersonal events, and a forum where anyone — regardless of age, gender, race, ability, orientation — can find examples of their peers enjoying the most fundamental of human experiences: love.
