Psst…hey…this is a romance.
I’m someone who straddles two cultures that are often mocked by the mainstream media. And sometimes, one even mocks the other.
First, I’m a geek.
Second, I’m also a published romance writer.
When people ask me what my books are like, clearly meaning “oh, those books,” I tell them my idea of romance is The Terminator except (spoiler!) Kyle lives at the end.
And like the author of suddenly explosively popular 50 Shades of Grey, I’ve written an erotica story (Alas, my book isn’t on the cover of Entertainment Weekly and movie producers aren’t knocking down my door. I know! It’s a grave injustice.)
But there’s a reason women, especially female geeks, should be paying attention to the inevitable derision engendered by 50 Shades of Grey and the label “mommy porn.” Because this is a feminist issue, part of the society in which women’s rights are under attack, as detailed in Kay’s “Voting Is for the Girls!” post last week.
First, some background. I didn’t always think well of romance. Being a girl geek, especially in the generation I grew up, the one right after Title IX, wasn’t easy. I liked all things dubbed “boy stuff,” from Star Trek to comics to sports. I was a firm tomboy and in reaction to girls who thought I was weird, I took a perverse pride in hating “girly stuff.” Anything pink or frilly and especially dresses, bah, I didn’t want them.
That included romance stories.
It wasn’t until I was an adult that I started reading books primarily shelved in the romance section of the bookstore and that was by accident.
