 Romance
novels are at once the most scorned and popular form of literature in
the world, accounting for as much as 40% of total book sales in much of
the world. The average romance reader (and writer) is female,
ambitious, leads a very full and busy life, and has an above-average
education and intelligence. The livelihood of some of the world's most
critically-acclaimed (mostly male) authors depends on the revenue base
generated from the sale of the remarkably diverse genre called
'romance', written by and bought overwhelmingly by women.
I have often written about the need for us to reduce human population
to sustainable levels. Short of introduction (by nature or man) of a
monstrous new technology to achieve that end, history suggests there is
only one way that will happen: If, around the world, women achieve
equal power to men. This is currently close to true in only one place:
Scandinavia, which by every measure has achieved the highest and most
egalitarian quality of life on the planet in modern history. It is
nearly as true in Kerala, India, a matriarchal society with a standard
of living (measured by health, longevity, low infant mortality,
nutrition, equality of wealth, and low homelessness and poverty levels)
comparable to that of the West at one
sixtieth its level of
per-capita consumption. Both societies have reached sustainable levels
of population, while Kerala has also achieved sustainable levels of
consumption. The one absolutely necessary key to achieving equal power
for women is education. One of the best methods for learning is by
listening to success stories, and modeling your behaviour on the
examples that led to that success. And romance novels are the definitive
success stories.
So romances are, in fact, subversive
literature: They encourage women to be dissatisfied with inequality,
and to set higher expectations for themselves, and they show them ways
to achieve those expectations, largely by taming men and, in a way,
usurping their power. Romances are arguably the only art form of any
kind that portrays women as equal partners with men. Literature
professor Mary Bly (a/k/a romance author Eloisa James) writes
in this week's NYT that "romances actually validate female desire". and
"reflect no more than what most of us hope for in daily life".
In a compendium on romance, Dangerous Men and Adventurous Women, contributor Robyn Donald, in the chapter "Mean, Moody and Magnificent: The Hero in Romance Literature", writes:
The
strong, domineering hero of the romance novel has long been the
subject of criticism. What critics don't realize is that it is the
hero's task in the book to present a suitable challenge to the heroine.
His strength is a measure of her power. For it is she who must conquer
him. Every
good romance heroine
must have a hero who is worthy of her. And in most cases he is a mean,
moody, magnificent creature with an
arrogant air of self-assurance -- until he meets the heroine. The spirited, somewhat bewildered heroine senses that she
is the only person who has such a powerful effect on him, just as he is
the only man who can make her reassess the foundations on which she has
built her life until then. She is able to read the small signals that
tell her he is trustworthy, even though his hardness and antagonism may
repel her at first. And the signs of his helpless response to her are
intercepted by feminine intuition.
The
fact that the woman's hopes and dreams are fulfilled through achieving
subtle but equal partnership with a man is a simple recognition of the
reality of power and politics in the world -- despite its exotic
settings and sometimes florid prose, this form of women's literature is
solidly grounded in reality (far more than most literature read by
men). The lesson is that throughout history (and these novels are set
throughout history) great women have been forced to achieve power and
success through men -- so get used to it, and by the way, here are some
techniques that will make you successful at it, and have some fun along
the way.
I confess I'm not a reader of romances -- they are too long getting to
the point for my tastes -- but I very much enjoy films based on romance
novels. There are two series, the first called Shades of Love, the second without an umbrella name but extremely well made (see e.g. Loving Evangeline),
based on some of the Harlequin novels that are extraordinary: Engaging
plots, credible and charming characters, heroines that live up to any
man's wildest fantasies (where did this myth that men don't like women
taking the initiative come from?), and, of course, sumptuous settings
in place and time. None of the usual 'woman as victim' crap that is so
prevalent in films made about women.
Romance novels are serious business. The online hub for romance readers, All About Romance,
is so popular it commands the respect of publishers and authors, who
know its reviews (and there are hundreds and hundreds of them) can make
or break a book. Romance novels are also women's business: Most romance authors are members of the Romance Writers
of America
(RWA), the largest writers' organization in the world and a
strong lobbyist for authors' rights. Through local chapters, RWA also
provides critique groups to teach members to write publishable
romances. Romance writers are the only authors who train their own
competition and pride themselves on sharing what they know. If you
can't afford the $100 annual RWA fees, Harlequin, among others, also
offers online courses
on how to make a living writing romances, and the courses are
competently written and challenging. They offer free critiques of your
work. What other industry do you know where the masters of the craft
teach potential competitors how to do it, for free? Great stuff. And if
you're poor, or your taste for romance is insatiable, you can even read entire romances online for free, with additional installments every day. Can we get these guys to talk to the RIAA and show them the way?
So, brava, writers and readers of romances! You are a breath of innovation
in a creatively moribund industry, and, despite the sneers, an
important force in the liberation of women. Now if only someone could
invent a subtle and engaging genre of literature we could use to
educate men...
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MADE IN CANADA
trust your
instincts 
