Carmen Wise
Professor Nancy Knowles
English 104
How are condoms, popularity and romance novels connected? In the following entry you will read my blog party assignment involving emotional connections that readers have with the romance novels that they read. What does this have to do with condoms you ask, read on and it will all make sense.
My inquiry question is “Are romantic novels, true or fiction, more popular with readers because they affect us emotionally?” Doing most of my research proved that romance novels are the most popular by the proof of highest profit genre. I did not find direct answers to my question. However, from my research I can assume that the popularity of romance novels is because of the emotional connection the reader gets from novel.
My first research was done on Business of Consumer Book Publishing 2009 showing the profit that romance novels have made this year. Everything that was shown about romance novels they were above every other genre. The following is the numbers I found on this website:
--Romance fiction generated $1.37 billion in sales in 2008.
-- 7,311 new romance titles were released in 2008.
--In 2008, romance was the top performing category on the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly best-seller lists.
--Romance fiction sales are estimated at $1.36 billion for 2009.
--74.8 million people read at least one romance novel in 2008.
(Source: RWA Reader Survey)
I also found the following information on Writers Digest “Studying the Romance Novel” by Leigh Michaels. “Why are romances so popular? There are as many answers as there are readers. And there are a lot of readers—RWA’s 2005 study showed that 64.6 million Americans read at least one romance in the previous year. Half the readers are married; almost half are college graduates, and 15 percent hold graduate degrees. Women between the ages of twenty-five and fifty-four make up more than half the romance-reading audience, but readers range in age from their preteens to over age seventy-five. A fair number of men read romances, too—22 percent of all romance readers are male, according to RWA—but not many are willing to talk about it. (Some even subscribe to by-mail book clubs in their wives’ names to keep their secret from the mailman.)” Based on the above information I concluded that romance novels are popular due to the emotional connection they have with their readers. All the other genres (fiction, non-fiction, sci-fi, cooking, etc.) don’t use emotional connections nearly as much as romantic novels do. Anyone who had read the average romance novel remembers wishing that things had worked as easily as they do in the book for them in their own lives.
Making crucial decisions in our lives are sometimes persuaded by the books that you read. When I discussed my question with our instructor for this class she told me that she had some papers on my topic she thought that I would enjoy. In reading one of the articles called Love Means Having to be Careful by Amanda Diekman, Mary McDonald, and Wendi Gardner. These three ladies decide to do a survey of student who read romance novels. They explain that the main concept of being “swept away” in a romance novel doesn’t always paint the right picture in the readers mind. By this they broke it down to explain that a lot of romance novels out there don’t promote the use of sexual protection (condoms). Diekman/McDonald/Gardner argues that romance novels that hint that condoms will affect being “swept away” actually will affect its reader’s ideas of using condoms in their own lives. They suggest that if romance novels showed how using condoms as a good thing its readers would be more likely to do the same in their own lives. They shows evidence of this by doing surveys of college students after they have read romance novels without promoting sexual protection and romance novels with sexual protection. They found that when surveyed the students who read the romance novels that promoted sexual protection said that they were more likely to use it themselves. They discovered that some novels made the readers afraid of the negative interpersonal consequences they would receive if they tried to use sexual protection. Diekman/McDonald/Gardner is trying to get the idea across that what we read even if it is purely for entertainment still affects us and our lives. The readers of romance novels have a connection with the characters so they will in some ways try to mold their lives into the way the novel went. (Psychology of Women Quarterly 2000) I found this article long but very interesting. I had a hard time following the mathematics of the survey papers but the main area of the paper was very interesting. I didn’t really think of this article having a connection to my question until reading this article over again. Diekman is showing the emotional connection the these people had to the romance novels and how that connection affect how they made choices in their own lives because of it. It really was a very moving paper that made me think back to my condom use and the choices that I have made in the past. I wonder now if the romance novels I was reading at those times affected the decisions that I made.
What really makes a romance novel a romance novel? While doing the research for this blog party I found out this distinction between a general novel and romance novels. I would have thought that any novel with a romance in it would be considered a romance novel, this is incorrect. It all depends on which elements of the story are emphasized. If there is a story with elements of a romance but it is not the main focus of the novel it is not considered a romance novel. It the main focus of the book is the romance then it would go into the romance genre. Just because the novel has a couple that fall in love does not make it a romance novel. Here is a quote from Leigh’s paper again “So let’s say you’re writing a story about a woman who’s being chased by the bad guys, and she falls in love with the bodyguard who’s protecting her. Is this a romance novel? Or is it general fiction? That depends on which elements of the story are emphasized. If the main focus of the story is the chase, what the bad guys are actually up to, and why they’re after the main character, the novel is general fiction. If the main focus of the story is the couple falling in love while they’re hiding out, it’s a romance novel.” I found all of this interesting; I wouldn’t have thought that there were such strict standards to qualify as a romance novel. Knowing what the definition of making a romance novel entails I can only conclude that a true romance novel connects emotionally with its reader.
In conclusion I have found sufficient evidence that the answer to my question is yes. When asking the question at first I thought that the answer would be yes. However, I am glad that I did the research that I did because I learned a lot about romance novels that I otherwise would not have learned. There is no way that I would have thought that the use of condoms could have any connection to a romance novel until I read their article. It was very much worth the read. I will be very interested to get feedback from all of you on your feelings on this subject. I hope you all enjoyed it, thanks for reading.
Works Cited:
Diekman, Amanda B.; McDonald, Mary; Gardner L.. “Love Means Never Having To Be Careful” Psychology of Women Quarterly, 24 (2000), 179-188. Cambridge University Press
Business of Consumer Book Publishing 2009. Romance Writers of America: http://www.rwanational.org/cs/the_romance_genre/romance_literature_statistics
Michaels, Leigh. “Studying the Romance Novel” Writers' Digest: http://www.writersdigest.com/article/on-writing-romance-excerpt/
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I enjoyed your post, Carmen! While the last romance novel I read was probably more than 10 years ago, I have actually thought about the diverse group of women I've known who read them, and why. I've probably never questioned their effects, but something as critical as using condoms for protection probably wouldn't have come to mind. Of course it makes good sense. You also used a pretty good strategy to engage your readers! :)
ReplyDeleteYou make a great argument for all other forms of "entertainment" that is assumed to be taken in harmlessly as well. How difficult would it be for movies to add condom use or even just the suggestion of it, delicately or playfully to fit the scene? And while too much of the wrong viewing for young people greatly disturbs me, they're seeing plenty. It isn't just adults who need such messages.
And I admit that I've proably never once considered what distinguishes a romance novel from a novel, but that was also interesting. While there are romantic moments in many novels, it makes sense that the main focus is the deciding factor. I've learned a few more things. Thanks!
I have read and enjoyed romance novels for the very reason you stated. Not only that but I will try to mimic what I learn from those books to better my romantic relationship with my wife. I did not know that romance books represent the highest grossing total. this makes sence as my own research showed women to have a higher interest in reading. good blog.
ReplyDeleteYou had me at "condoms".
ReplyDeleteSo where does this place the Twilight saga? The whole story obviously is not just about Edward and Bella (and Jacob), but that is the one aspect that people seem to remember the most about it. If Twilight is considered in the romance genre, then that's all the evidence I need :)
You really opened my eyes to the romance genre. I always thought of romance novels as something for middle-aged women who enjoy reading about a ridiculous whirlwind romance with a muscly shirtless Fabio-esque hero who could never exist in real life. I definitely learned something today.
Margaret-
ReplyDeleteThank you very much! I tried to think of something to catch my readers attention for a really long time. I eneded up with what I did because I knew that if I was skimming through papers that would have caught my attention. LOL! I actually learned a lot doing this assignment also. Very interesting how I could relate with most of them without any trouble at all.
I totally agree with you on the condom use issues in movies also. I know that 7 years ago when I was a senior in high school, having my bald, old, over weight gym teacher talking about comdoms was comedy and nothing more. I wouldn't have been caught dead using protection. It was cool to have them just not to use them.
Having better instruction in schools and on papular Teen TV shows would make it much easier. Thanks for the comment!
Rob-
ReplyDeleteI have to say you almost made me tear up with your comment. Honestly! I know that it sounds stupid but I would die if my boyfriend took the time to read a romance novel and tried to romance me a little more. That is an amazing thing to admit, I mean it, I bet every female that reads this will swoon! Your wife is a luck lady.
I wasn't suprised by the high profit from romance novels soley because I am a big buyer of romance novels myself so I assumed it was the highest. Interesting though I agree. Thanks for the comment!
Janesse-
ReplyDeleteLOL! I figured that it would get some attention. I really thought that paper involving the condom use was amazing. It is not a fun read but very interesting once you get into it and understand what it is talking about.
So I assume you are obsessed with Twilight Saga like I am! I loved ever single word. If I was going to decide myself I would say that it is a romance novel for sure. The underlying plot is romance, the vampire part is just adding to the drama of it. I can't wait for another book or the next movie to come out. If only there were more Edwards out there!
Thanks for the comment!
I had no idea romance novels were the highest grossing! Thinking about it now, though, it does make sense. I enjoyed reading your paper and do have to agree that they are so popular because they affect us emotionally and we can sometimes even connect to them and with the characters better than with a general fiction novel.
ReplyDeleteOn a side note- I have to agree that the Twilight saga is a romance. The main focus seems to be on Edward and Bella's relationship, which could also partially explain why it's so hugely popular. It can appeal to tweens/teens because of the age group used in the novels, as well as older age groups because of the romance aspect. Just thought I would throw in my opinion! :)
What an interesting topic! I had no idea that romance novels and contraceptive use were at all related. I wonder what (if any) changes will occur within these novels to reflect that relationship. Hopefully something does change since contraceptive use is so important (nursing student here, I've had to learn my fair share about all of this!).
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your inquiry question. As a lover of Nicholas Sparks novels. The conclusions you drew for why people read romance novels is evident. I always find myself wishing love was as easy as the characthers potray.
ReplyDeleteTo answer your FIRST question: they all have a strong impact on sex! By the way, putting the word "condoms" within the first few words was brilliant. I saw a presentation in Art History this week by three guys that started with the phrase: "Penises, Cocks, Phalluces." Game, set, match. Everyone in the room was listening.
ReplyDeleteI thought you did a really good job with this, making everything connect and make sense to your point. I think it's interesting just how much of an impact something like a romance novel can have someone.
Amanda-
ReplyDeleteThank you for the comment. I think you are right about the Twilight Saga. It is amazing the age range that is into this book/movie thing with Twilight. If you ever get the chance you should check out the authors webpage. Reading her story on how she came up with the saga is almost as good to me as the books themselves. It had me in tears. She also wrote another book that I heard was put on the internet without her concent. She asked a friend to read over it for her and they put it on the net. Very upsetting sense she is such a good writer in my opinion! I think she doesn't talk about condoms in her books but she does set some morals that will help the yourger readers.(not having sex until after they are married) I would say this is because she knows that her kids were going to read it and she didn't want them to learn something wrong, our advantage though!
Marybeth-
ReplyDeleteI agree, I have no idea really how they would put it in there but even just hinting at it would help I believe. I am sure that someone could and has came up with a way it just needs to be paid more attention too. Thanks for the comment!
Lacie-
ReplyDeleteI wish love was that easy too. However the romance books always end after they get together. If we could read about the 10 years later I am not sure they would still be together. Who knows? Thanks for the comment!
Seth-
ReplyDeleteThanks! I tried to think of something that would catch everyone's attention, I guess it worked. LOL. Sounds like an interesting class for sure, I am the type that would have been giggling under my breath. Thanks for the comment!
Wow - what a unique and provocative question! I think this also demonstrates a side of psychology and how we humans will adopt the behavior of those who we admire or wish to emulate. I guess if you're going to write romance novels that promote safe sex, you would be also wise to invest in the companies that make condoms.
ReplyDeleteIt's obvious you did a great deal of research. Great post (busy mom)!!
Janet-
ReplyDeleteThank you. I agree, adaptation is a great word for what I researched. It totally fits what I was trying to say. Thank you!
Great job, Carmen.
ReplyDeleteI have to say, I think I've read one romance novel..not my thing at all. However, I think your post is very interesting! As the mom of three teen boys, I have to say that I'm not 100% sold on the fact that promoting safe sex in books (or movies) actually has that much affect on whether or not they practice it. I feel peers have much more influence that way, and that of course, would start at home. However, IF people are affected by those types of messages, perhaps if adults are reading novels with the messages, they will pass that on to their children?
Great topic, great work!
Hi, Carmen. I enjoyed your post and the conversation it sparked. I think for romance to work, the characters need to be kept apart as long as possible. Often in romance novels, the main couple is separated by an accidental, mutual dislike that is overcome as they get to know each other (as in Pride and Prejudice). I think X-Files was popular partly because the two main characters were co-workers and didn't see each other as a potential couple even though many viewers did. Or, as in Spiderman, if the man sees himself as a superhero, he can't put his love interest at risk, so they must part. Twilight has similar separation techniques built into the story. Having Edward be a vampire is a big one because throughout he is worried about killing Bella himself.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a kind of peekaboo phenomenon. We know the face will appear again, and we enjoy both the suspense in looking for it and the pleasure when it arrives. We know the characters will fall in love, we are anxious for them to be together, and we are happy to have our expectations realized. So, there are very primal urges involved here. And, as soon as the expectations are fulfilled, the story is pretty much over, so we don't see them 10 years later.
I wonder why this kind of story is so much more appealing to women than men? Perhaps it's a legacy of being men's property and having had to rely on marriage as the only option for having a good life? Or, maybe women are more naturally connected to emotions? Or, maybe women spend so much of their lives caring for others that stories about being cared for by men are appealing? Nancy
Thank you all for your comments. This was a fun project to do. I am glad that I finally had a class where talking between students was ok! I enjoyed all of your ideas also. I hope you all had fun with this project, all that I have gotten to read so far where very well done. We should all be proud of ourselves for doing so well in this class, I know it was a large workload and we all made it! Congrats All!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for all your help!
Carmen