Busting Out All Over
Sep 13 '00
Bodice Rippers? I've heard Bodice Busters, and frankly, I prefer that term! The word "Ripper" kind of....well....scares me! The implication being that the overly developed nymphet on the cover was rudely deprived of her upper body covering by the glistening set of heaving pecs pressed to her throbbing bosom (did I get that right? I was trying to think of a way to use "tumescent" in there, but really, that's later in the novel...), rather than having tore off her bodice in an act of reckless passion! Frankly, I choose to think that all the women on those covers CHOSE to be unclothed with those men. I don't know a whole lot of women who WOULDN'T choose to be unclothed with a man who looked like that.
But, I digress. Are bodice busters degrading to women? Better yet to ask: "Are bodice busters degrading to the very demographic they expressly cater to?" I hardly think so. Well, let me say, no more degrading to women than they are to men. No, really, think about it! How many men have you met who typify your average romance hero? If you met one, would you really, really want to date him? Most men in romance novels are not very pleasant sorts of fellows through the bulk of the story. Especially in historical romances, but it's pervasive through the whole genre--the male characters are typically chauvinistic, domineering, big, evil, nasty jerks until they fall in love with the heroine. Personally, I would rather wear a beard of bees than date some of the personalities in these books. (OK, if he didn't talk, MAYBE I could see a cheap one-night-stand. Admit it, they're pretty.) The males in these novels cater to the worst stereotypes that womankind holds about men--the grunting, clubbing, scratching caveman stereotype. If I were a man, I could see viewing this as a daunting characterization.
In stark contrast, the women in romance novels are characterized as strong, opinionated and spunky individuals while at the same time being kind, caring, beautiful and gentle. In the end, the choice of whether to be with the hero or move on (despite the wild and crazy circus sex) rests entirely in her hands. OK, I don't know how or where I missed the sign up for that sort of life, but I most certainly did. What woman would not like to have at least one, maybe two of these things used in a description of her? These novels aren't degrading to women--we READ them still, don't we? If novels were degrading to women, we're smart enough to STOP READING THEM.
In short, romance novels are degrading only to those who chose to be degraded by them. If you don't like them, think they exploit women, fine--put the book down and go find something else to do. But, if you find you can't put the book down, even though you've got to be up early to work the next day, read on, my friend...and be sure you've got a box of tissues for the end.
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Epinions.com ID:
ABenoit877
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Member: Amber Benoit
Location: Denver, CO
Reviews written: 22
Trusted by: 4 members
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