When someone hears the words “romance novel,” most people picture a book with a half-naked man on the cover accompanied by a cliché story inside. While this may be true for a few of them, the romance genre is deeply misunderstood. The act of reading a romance novel is often associated with being anti-feminist or purely sexual. Romance novels tend to have a reputation for being “trashy” and going against any feminist progress that has been made in the last hundred or so years.
Many find themselves feeling like they are not “real feminists” if they choose to read romance novels. As stated by Christina Lauren, the pair of writers who have written popular romance novels like The Unhoneymooners and The Soulmate Equation, reading or writing romance novels “create no conflict with our feminism.” If someone chooses to read a story about a woman falling in love with a man, it does not contradict their feminist beliefs. Falling in love and forming relationships are a key part of life, something that most people are bound to do at least once. Romance novels are a way for people “to celebrate emotional connection.” In most cases, especially in recently published books, they celebrate a healthy and beautiful connection between people, that not everyone has experienced in their life. It is a way for people to feel hopeful and to also know what is healthy in an emotional connection. Many books in the romance genre, especially in recent years, have been about strong, realistic women who many people can relate to. The ideas that romance books only contain lovestruck women that will let a man walk all over them are dated. Christina Lauren explains that “falling in love with men does not make […] heroines weak.”
While the sexual aspect of the romance genre is accurate in some cases, it does not make the books trashy. Not every romance novel contains explicit content within it, however, “smut” or sexual content is not something that should be shamed. If anything, it adds to the feminist aspect of reading romance novels. “Sex and free agency are empowering.” For so long, romance novels have been looked down upon because some do contain sexual content. So what? “We can find power in our sexuality, or by withholding it.” Being in touch with one’s sexuality and learning about relationships through reading romance novels should not be a thing to be ashamed of or to look down upon. In society, there is a lot of stigma surrounding sex. The more that we destigmatize sex and the less we shame people for being open about it, the more opportunities there are to explain safe sex and the importance of consent. Conversation about sex can help to promote healthy relationships and to reduce risks. Being open and in-touch with one’s sexuality is very important and reading romance can be a key part of that for many people. Reading a romance novel is empowering and do not let anyone tell you otherwise.
Another problem in the romance genre is the lack of diversity, which is true in many cases. The romance genre was dominated by white authors who wrote about relationships between a white man and a woman exclusively. However, recently there has been a significant increase in the publication and promotion of books that tell stories about different types of relationships and people. This genre is now “at the forefront of inclusivity.” There are many books now published about characters from diverse backgrounds and distinctive identities. Books that feature “queer and transgender couples, racially and culturally diverse heroes and heroines, and characters with disabilities” are now being widely published. Readers are more likely to read a romance novel now that there are more diverse characters that a wider range of people can relate to. The romance genre is working to break the habit of only publishing white, heterosexual couples. While there is still a great amount of work to be done regarding full equality and inclusivity, the romance genre has evolved significantly in the last few years.
Another criticism of romance novels is that many people do not like how cliché they can be. I get it, I used to be that person. Many people hate predictable endings, which is a valid reason not to read a book, but not a reason to shame an entire genre and its readers. Reading is a form of escapism for many people, a place to enjoy different worlds when the real one gets a little tough, meaning that predictable endings can provide comfort. Furthermore, not all romance books have happy endings, and many novels incorporate realistic problems that normal relationships must work through. Not all books about love end happily, but if that is what you prefer, that is okay. If you personally do not enjoy cute, cliché romance books, then do not read them. However, do not judge those that do.
Romance books have never really been taken seriously. I find that I still struggle a bit to be honest when someone asks me what I’m reading or what my favorite book is because so many people have a bad idea of what the romance genre is. Romance is the primary genre that I personally read, it is what I want to move forward with in my career, and reading it is my favorite pastime. And yet, as much as I love it, I sometimes still get scared of people’s reactions when I say that it is my favorite thing to read. I think this insecurity comes from the academic and societal view of romance novels. That they are not legitimate pieces of literature and that you waste time not reading something more important or informative. These people need to be reminded that so many of the classics that are still discussed today, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare to name a few, are romance books or romantic tragedies. Therefore, there is no reason for anyone to not take the romance genre seriously, on an academic, professional, or societal level.
At the end of the day, romance, no matter anyone’s opinion on it, is the best-selling genre of books. Therefore, it is the most popular book genre, making the most money in the publishing industry. Maybe if more people were aware of how popular and lucrative it is, they would appreciate it and take it more seriously.
Overall, the romance genre is very misunderstood. The genre has evolved significantly, showing readers what healthy relationships look like for people of all different identities and backgrounds. They are not trashy or anti-feminist, they are empowering. Never shame anyone or feel shame yourself for reading a romance novel. Romance books are just as important as other genres and should be treated with the same respect, especially when they are the most successful. Never let the judgements of other people stop you from reading what you like, and never judge others for doing the same.