Charlaine Harris has an interesting blog entry about something I’ve been noticing in romance too: forcible seduction. I’m sorry, but it’s not sexy. It’s not “Oh, Mr. Huntington, you’re so naughty. I just couldn’t do that! Oh!” I want to scream at these heroines — and maybe even the authors — what are you doing? Having her want it and say so is so much more sexy than this “no” means “yes” bullshit!

Yes, I’ve got strong feelings about this kind of stuff. Putting aside the obvious “forcible seduction = rape no matter how you name it” thought, why can’t a female character be in charge of her sexuality? Why do so many people want to read about a woman who not only is so virginal she has no idea how to sexually grow but that she must be forced into it? It pisses me off that there’s so many female writers out there, and even male writers, who have an opportunity to make a gorgeous, vibrant woman whose in charge of her sexuality…and there seems to be more of this “no means yes” stuff. What’s worse, I’ve been told before Himani, no one will believe your female characters. They’re more like men! Oh, EXCUSE ME. So a confident, take-action-and-no-bullshit woman who (*gasp*) likes sex can’t exist?!*

*Bah, writing about virginal women is boring. I’d much rather write about a woman who knows what she wants. That’s more interesting because I can ask “What does she want? How’s she going to get it?” More complex and colorful questions than “Why hasn’t she gotten it yet?” and “When’s she going to get it?” in my opinion.

1:18 pm | Category: Writing | |

2 Responses to “Say no to “forcible seduction”” 

ID: 194 December 20th, 2007 at 1:39 pm Ibsulon says: Margaret Atwood wrote a great story about this called, appropriately enough, “Rape Fantasies.” (I wish I could find a copy online — but I do want to leave with a thought - many times, fantasy is where we eroticize our fears in order to disarm them.

ID: 195 December 20th, 2007 at 2:30 pm Himani says:  QUOTED Ibsulon: Margaret Atwood wrote a great story about this called, appropriately enough, “Rape Fantasies.” (I wish I could find a copy online — but I do want to leave with a thought - many times, fantasy is where we eroticize our fears in order to disarm them. True, but I’ve also read that it’s a way to fantasize about having sex or become sexual without being blamed for it.

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