What’s Wrong With Romantic Novels?
Out of all the genres in fiction, it is romantic novels that are loved the most by women. There’s nothing wrong with reading these novels for sheer pleasure. But, when readers start getting addicted to romantic novels, it can get really dangerous. You wondering, how? Well, this article is here to tell you what’s wrong with romantic novels.
They establish unrealistic notions
Although romantic novels have interesting plots, they establish unrealistic notions. Most of these mushy, romantic novels would tell you love happens at first sight and love making happens at any site! Many a times, they comprise unrealistic plots which tell you ‘… and the girl was all by herself in the farm when she met a wolf. She turned around and there he was, her man. She fell into his arms and begged for help. The man bravely faced the wolf, defeated the animal. And then they made love, right amid the hay’. These things never really happen in the real world.
They take you to a dreamy world
Romantic fiction takes its readers to a dreamy world of adventure, sex and happiness. Studies reveal, most women, who are addicted to romantic novels, tend to think on the same lines when they are hooked up on a book. Such an attitude fosters the readers’ tendency towards escapism. Many fans of romantic novels find it difficult to come to terms with their brutal present and, hence, like to spend time reading romantic fiction.
They create a wrong image of a woman
Very few romantic novels are really rich in content and have a style which is worth appreciating. But, there are many others which portray the female protagonist as a feeble, lame and immature woman who needs an anchor of her life and that anchor is always the strong and mature hero. In reality, women are not even half as gullible as they are shown in these novels.
They are almost equal to erotica
The sexual content in romantic novels is described in such an explicit way that it almost equals erotica. However, romantic novels and erotica share a difference; the latter focuses on steamy stories while romantic novels compel you to use your imagination when it comes to sex. But, the logic is the same and so is the end result. When readers imagine such raunchy scenes, their sexual fantasies cross their limits and they mess up with their real, romantic life, studies reveal.
They heighten expectations
Romantic novels portray the hero in a totally different light. In most cases, the hero is a strong-willed person who is sensitive and is ‘always there’ for his girl. In fact, the concept of the ‘alpha male’ developed through romantic novels. When people read such novels, they start believing these concepts. This heightens their expectations, which leads to rifts with their spouses because their man doesn’t behave the way a romantic hero does. On the other hand, there are a few novels which show the hero to be violent and a male chauvinist. Yet, the girl gives in, for she loves him. This ideology breeds wrong notions. Firstly, because real men are not that bad. And if they are, women mustn’t give in. In fact, women of modern times must be equally strong-willed as their men.
Romantic novels are the perfect entertainers, that goes without a doubt. But, getting addicted to these novels can have a serious impact on the reader’s personal life. Hence, reading too many romantic novels is something that is best avoided.
