Does this annoy anyone else in romance novels?

Question

I love reading Harlequin Presents but theres something that have always bothered me. The girl is always ''virginal'' and ''innocent'' while the guy sleeps around/is promiscuous. He is always the ''experienced'' one while the girl is a one man woman. To me that is incredibly sexist. Why can't they make the guy discriminate in his sexual activities, like maybe he sleep with only two women in his lifetime? The guy doesnt always have to be promiscuous.

Answer 1

The Harlequin Presents imprint is designed to appeal to a certain audience. That is women who are seeking to vicariously experience or recapture the feeling of falling in love for the first time and being hopelessly swept off their feet by a larger than life man of the world. Hence the virginal or innocent heroine is utilized almost metaphorically. Romance novels are intended as an escapist outlet and not a social commentary. If you want something more "realistic" try one of Harlequin's other imprints...they have quite a few and try to appeal to a wide range of readers

Answer 2

its because our society's ideals for romance has always really been that an innocent girl finds a worldly guy and falls in love, this is usually her first and only love, and it works out because of her restrictive past or something. This has been the way for centuries, if it was the other way around, Women would have been stronger in society (like they are today), along time ago, then men would have been equal.
I think some typical romance authors should write sequals that make the girl say,
"you know what, dear husband? I know so much more about the world than when we first met, I know now that there must be better guys then you."
Then she runs away or leaves or gets a divorce.

Answer 3

The virginal female and "experienced" male who wrests passion from her is part of the successful formula for many romance novel series. If you read enough romance novels from any given series, you will be able to predict the plot twist by twist.

Why is the heroine always virginal? There is still a stigma in USA society against a woman who pursues sex in the same manner as a man. A sexually aggressive male is perceived as “virile.” while a sexually aggressive female is perceived to be a sexually indiscriminate woman, the common name for which rhymes with “cut.” From a traditional cultural perspective, sleeping around for a male is not promiscuous; it is expected and desirable.

You said “He is always the ''experienced'' one while the girl is a one man woman.” I’d say “He is always sexually free while the girl is not, or perhaps she is still pre-sexual, awaiting the arrival of the prince who will awaken her natural desires.” A girl is not a woman.

There are romance novels that feature women from this century, who know what they want sexually and in the rest of life and who expect a partnership of equals with her partner, be that partner male or female. If you are in search of something different, you friendly and helpful local librarian will be glad to steer you toward romances that feature women that didn't walk off of the set from Father Knows Best. Or, you can peruse the links I’ve given.

Librarians, like that credit card, are everywhere you want to be.

Answer 4

I believe you. Random romances that come out of nowhere are so annoying, extraordinarily once you could in basic terms tell neither of the characters have any actual chemistry or something, however the only reason they're at the same time is as a results of the fact the author in basic terms needed them to be. yet another element i do in contrast to is the corny, sappy romances. those the place they're at the same time continuously, kiss or make a pass each 2 pages, stuff like that. those romances that decision one yet another "soul friends" and that they would be "at the same time continuously" even nonetheless they have purely been at the same time for what? A month? For an occasion of undesirable romance in basic terms study Twilight.

Answer 5

I read a historical romance novel recently, it was a Christian romance novel, based on the book of Hosea, and it was where the woman was the promiscuous one, and the man was not! He was "virginal". It was a really good book, called Redeeming Love.

Answer 6

I'v read at least a 1000 romance books. Your right on this but once in awhile you'll find one where the guy has only slept with a couple girls. If you read the historical ones it's because back then thats how it was suppose to be (girls always virgins till they marry). It's not fair (the old double standard) but thats how it was~

Answer 7

YES- I don't read that series for that reason and mostly always read the blurb to see the gist of the story to prevent a virginal episode.
I can only do so many virgin books a year and i've met my quoata for the next 10.
I'm not a huge historiacl fan in general.

Answer 8

Maybe you need to try Betty Neel's gentle romances. They're Harlequins but with an older man who's not promiscuous. The heroines are virginal, but vary in being goody-goody or spunky hard-working.
Most of hers are nurse/doctor with ties to Holland.

Answer 9

Ummm, then why exactly DO you read them?

Why not hunt down some good dominatrix erotica for an alternative?

And then read some poetry while chanting a mantra sitting in lotus position with incense burning and hard rock playing at the same time as classical at the same time as ambient; and then realize variety ain't such a bad thing...

:)

Answer 10

has to do with the prevailing fantasies of the women in the market. Most of the readers are pretty innocent, or at least wish they were. The heroines are innocent and virginal so that the readers can identify closely with them ... also it's convenient for the heroine to make virginal mistakes, for conflict value.