tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630346294397505634.post5633422614046212263..comments2024-03-16T03:00:25.132-04:00Comments on Romance Novels for Feminists: Questioning the Segregation of Romance: Ruth Wind's IN THE MIDNIGHT RAINJackie C. Hornehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04146684628443152376noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630346294397505634.post-42469899256431534712014-02-04T20:45:04.504-05:002014-02-04T20:45:04.504-05:00Love is universal, but you would never be able to ...Love is universal, but you would never be able to tell that from what the romance landscape continues to look like. Not only are there issues of erasure, but I'd say ageism and ironically sexism in many of today's novels (but those are topics for another time). To be honest, it is past time mainstream romance writers integrated fully-realized marginalized groups and it makes me wonder about the ones who do not, just what kind of world do they live in. It certainly isn't the increasingly diverse world I live in. In fact, I've started giving a lot of urban fantasy books a HUGE pass for being set in cosmopolitan cities and yet having utterly whitewashed casts. In 2014 this should be unacceptable to ALL readers, and yet it seems very few are concerned. And I have to agree with Anonymous when it comes to some of the most face-palmingly BAD stereotypes I've had the misfortune to have come across. What's worse is that authors guilty of this expect a brownie button for "inclusion" then are offended when readers of color give them the side-eye for perpetuating stereotypes.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05221498491418088002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630346294397505634.post-57575899817443596732014-02-04T19:08:22.889-05:002014-02-04T19:08:22.889-05:00Thanks, Anonymous, for stopping by the blog and gi...Thanks, Anonymous, for stopping by the blog and giving us your take on the state of interracial communities in contemporary romance today. I can completely understand why you'd prefer that people of color not figure in "mainstream" romance at all if they're only going to be there as tokens, and/or in stereotypical supporting roles. When you're trying to de-stress, but you encounter unexpected racism, you certainly will end up "distressed"!<br /><br />What appealed so much to me about Ruth Wind's novel was the way it portrayed both black and white characters with humanity and depth, while also acknowledging cultural differences. Why is it so difficulty for today's writers to do the same?Jackie C. Hornehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04146684628443152376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630346294397505634.post-46214891147402431412014-02-01T04:47:03.934-05:002014-02-01T04:47:03.934-05:00This post feels so timely to me, so I ask in advan... This post feels so timely to me, so I ask in advance you please excuse my rant. It is a nice idea that romance novels feature integrated communities, but when written the reality is rarely as nice. Writers do not seem to be able to edit their own prejudices out, because of this I would rather read a book that does not have any minorities at all. I am not writing about interracial romance novels, but about novels featuring people of different ethnicities as supporting characters. I do read the ( yes segregated :( arr ) African American lines, and independently published minority romances. <br /> I am African American and have watched the romance industry try to include people with horrible results. Writers in the 90's started to write in an African American (AA) secretary in every novel. I could count on her popping around a corner smiling wearing red lipstick and large earrings relaying one piece of information, then she was never seen again. If the heroine needed to show a really caring side I could then count on her volunteering. This inevitable lead to the introduction of a down and out (AA) woman who thanked the heroine repeatedly, had braids, cursed profusely, but had a heart of gold.<br /> Then came the dark ages, 2000 and forward, of minority mentions. This is were good intentions bow out, and writers prejudices are let loose. Minority men as always stay in style, think the dark Italian, the Middle Eastern Prince, and the Greek or Spanish billionaire. Minority women however don't fair so well. The hero always desires the heroine not just because he loves her, NO he has to prefer her over the women of his own ethnicity. This HAS to be emphasized. If he has a love interest of his own ethnicity we can count on her being kicked to the curb, without any real reason given (why waste book space). This will in no way reflect on the hero's personality though, he is still great. <br /> If the romance happens in the United States things can get ugly fast. Reverse racism rears its head when randomly the heroin meets an Asian woman and just knows they are going to be friends. Somehow Spanish women still mostly pop up as maids, 2014 really! The (AA) woman can now expect to play a larger role than ever as the leading female bad girl in the romance, should she appear at all. In a popular novel who shall remain nameless the writer introduced an (AA) female character who she tells us the heroine does not like, no reason given. Then writes her doing something the heroine asked for but which we understand is ambiguously wrong, when fired the heroine does not speak up for her. No other (AA) women will appear in said novel.<br /> Oddly enough when not reading (AA) romance I read mostly British historical books just to escape from this sort of thing. Yet, even here occasionally a writer will take the time to insult minorities. East Indian women will find themselves cast as exotic mistresses easily dismissed by wonderful hero's, even though some novels simultaneously acknowledge they are considered wives while the hero was in India? African women should they pop up in British historical romances can look forward to a life of prostitution, period. Keep in mind this information will be given for no reason, the hero nor anyone else in the novel will be frequenting her. The writer just thought you would like to know. None of the women of African decent will be the product of a interracial union, the children of a African sailor and his wife, or the wife of a French émigré. By the way the last is as likely as anything else, marriage between second and third French sons on the Islands to free African women who were land and business owners was a very real fact of life, and yes some had moved back to France before the revolution.<br /> I read romance to distress, the last thing I want is to start reading and run into racism. It is as jarring as running into someone in blackface. For this reason I prefer to have no mention of minorities outside of there lines.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630346294397505634.post-26411070224127883122014-01-22T22:35:47.356-05:002014-01-22T22:35:47.356-05:00It's a beautiful story, beautifully written.It's a beautiful story, beautifully written. Mary Tate Engelshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15723408566495414415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630346294397505634.post-40360580094607101112014-01-22T11:16:00.395-05:002014-01-22T11:16:00.395-05:00You're very welcome. I'll definitely be or...You're very welcome. I'll definitely be ordering a copy for my keeper shelf!<br /><br />-- JackieJackie C. Hornehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04146684628443152376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-630346294397505634.post-85357275865080619322014-01-21T21:23:55.793-05:002014-01-21T21:23:55.793-05:00Thank you so much. I'm deeply honored by this...Thank you so much. I'm deeply honored by this post. The book came about because I realized I hadn't been writing much about my mixed race, multicultural life. <br /><br />The book has been re-released in print and ebook, and has been a most enduring favorite. <br /><br />http://amzn.to/1eRmCbq<br />http://bit.ly/1ebTMkqBarbara Samuelhttp://www.barbarasamuel.comnoreply@blogger.com