This has always been my contention, but I have nothing to back it up. What do you think?
2006-08-23 07:31:51 · 54 answers · asked by Anonymous in Social Science ➔ Gender Studies
You hit the nail on the head with that contention. I read many romance novels...the steamier, the better. These books allow me to live vicariously through their characters. So even though in reality I am a lonely, divorced, celibate, middle-aged woman...when I am reading my romance novel...I'm a sex kitten, a woman who finally found love, a daring diva, and basically whatever I want to be in that moment. It's stimulating to my mind and body and I don't have to worry about getting hurt, disappointed, contracting diseases, or getting pregnant.
2006-08-25 06:11:12 · answer #1 · answered by intentionalmasterpiece 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No apparently you are completely wrong. A study showed that women who read romance novels all the time reported higher levels of satisfaction in their marriages and had more orgasms (sorry don't have a source, it was in a newspaper).
It is just pornography for women; men who look at porn and are accepted are probably happier in their marriages too.
I think women often imagine that if their partner uses porn on a regular basis, then something must be terribly lacking in their sex lives, but in fact it's just normal behaviour. It's the same with women reading romance novels.
And I agree: it is very unfair that a woman can have her Mills and Boon out in the bookcase in the family room, but her husband has to hide his collection of Big Jugs Monthly in the garden shed.
2006-08-23 15:18:48 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
That could explain why some woman read romance novels, but others may just like to read something that doesn't require a lot of concentration. Most romance novels have generally the same plot so reading them can be relaxing as compared to reading a murder mystery where you have to think the entire time you are reading.
2006-08-23 09:19:34 · answer #3 · answered by KCH 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Everyone has Fantasies! Romance Novels are just that.
I don't know about "lacking something" or "little girl syndrome" but for me, if I was to read a Romance Novel, strictly for a lack of Intimacy Issue, I might learn something...which would only benefit the "relationship"....Right?
I doubt seriously if a Tall strapping young lad on a white steed will be coming my way soon, nor will I be shipwrecked on a deserted island with the mysterious blue eyed buxom beauty....but just in case I ever find myself in this situation....rest assure, I will have a reference to the situation at hand!
As far as your question.....I just backed you up.
2006-08-26 23:48:20 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
My wife reads everything, including some of the better Romance writers. She reads to escape. She reads to relax. She calls it brain candy, similar to what someone said earlier, no thinking involved.
I'm finding that she is more distant emotionally when she is reading explicit material, but more active and impersonal where it counts (women: impersonal is a GOOD thing).
So I say
- They read because they feel like their missing something romatically
- Their expectations are artificially raised by those perfect men, setting them up for disappointment
- Their sexual horizons are broadened
- The gap between fantasy and reality becomes smaller
I believe these exact same thing apply to men who use porn without becoming addicted to it.
2006-08-28 03:04:58 · answer #5 · answered by Usarian 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just my personal opinion, but little girls (who grow up to be women) get their heads filled with the fairy tales of the damsel in distress who is rescued by her Prince Charming and they end up living happily ever after. Romance novels seem to be an extension of that. How many marriages do you know of where the husband and wife never disagree, never argue, and never let anything from real life like work or children or bills get in the way? It seems that women really do believe in that "happily ever after" stuff, and once they realize that real life isn't like that, those who just can't accept it turn to romance novels as an escape. So yes, maybe they are lacking something in their love lives...a realistic view of what life and love are really like.
2006-08-23 07:41:07 · answer #6 · answered by sarge927 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Remember that in the US especially, girls are taught that good girls aren't supposed to particularly enjoy sex. A lot of women believe they won't be respected if they show enthusiasm or interest (I'm serious). So perhaps they read romance novels to have "safe" adventures.
I've never read a romance novel, so maybe I'm all wrong about what the stories are about.
2006-08-30 12:15:17 · answer #7 · answered by dashelamet 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No, not necessarily, when I've been in love, I love watching romantic movies more and reading about romantic stuff, relationships and work on things to be better, some people are addicted to romance, others are hopeless romantics, like me, the ones addicted to romance do things out of the ordinary to attract the opposite sex, and it is considered a negative behavioral pattern, a person with this kind of problem requires psychological therapy, because most of their relationships are unhealthy ones and seek the wrong men, for the wrong things. (Look for love in all the wrong places rather)
2006-08-29 23:53:04 · answer #8 · answered by You are loved 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think they are lacking something in their lives. I've never read a romance novel. I like to read books with story lines about stuff I've never experienced. I can experience romance and sex in real life, no need to read a whole novel about it!
2006-08-29 04:56:29 · answer #9 · answered by Red 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I read romance novels all the time and I don't think I'm missing anything in my life...especially my love life. I think I read them because I like the happy endings and often times romance novels are funny...who wouldn't like a little laugh?
2006-08-28 14:34:57 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋