Unrealistic
Apr 15 '00
Are "bodice rippers" degrading to women? Yes.
Not only are the scenes of rape and violence degrading to women, these books give an unrealistic view of morals and what is normal or expected in relationships and most of them seem to be presented in the light that emotional/sexual abuse in relationships is okay. I don't personally know any woman who wants to be treated like a doormat and then raped or coerced into sex. And I don't know anyone who would appreciate being treated like they don't matter, or who would be okay with being unsure how someone they loved feels about them.
I personally have friends who would read books of these type and then become upset because their relationship was not as "romantic" or "exciting" as the "relationships" portrayed in the book. I find that nine times out of ten, these books portray a "mousy" woman who is very timid or meek that ends up with a man who "takes advantage" of her and is very dominant over her. Or, to the other extreme, a woman who is extremely strong-willed and independent, that ends up with a man who "takes advantage" of her and puts her in her "place", thus by the end of the story she becomes a meek, mousy, timid person; a virtual slave.
Maybe I'm unusual, but I find nothing good about reading something that send out the message that women are supposed to be dominated and be submissive, or reading about women being used and let down by a person that they love.
Yes, 'bodice rippers' are "exciting" and can be "romantic", but I feel that the message they send out is very harmful to a woman's self-esteem and they give a very unrealistic view of how relationships should be.
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Epinions.com ID:
Emaleth982
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Member: Samantha Van Sciver
Location: Oklahoma City, OK
Reviews written: 56
Trusted by: 20 members
About Me:
Samantha is a proud Army wife and Mommy to 6 children.
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