Consent in Romance Writing
Enter the hero, full of someone’s interpretation of masculine charm. (Read: A complete, overbearing dick.)
Enter the heroine, who takes one look at the hero (asshole) and says, “No.”
The hero responds, “You’re wrong. You mean yes.”
The heroine tells him, “Get the fuck out.”
The hero leaves, secretly planning how to best stalk her, learn her secrets without her knowledge, and manipulate or coerce her into being his.
Insert 200 pages of stalking and attempted date rape.
The heroine swoons and declares, “You were right all along!”
So, this isn’t an accurate take of all romance novels. I know that. I really do. But it happens so damned often, and I can’t for the life of me figure out why.
(via kryptaria)
