A discussion on dangerous female reading at "Teach Me Tonight." I was especially struck by this point:

"And finally, isn't it interesting that the centuries-old tradition of concern about women readers seems to have focussed, in the present day, on women readers of romance? This is a genre which has been criticised by some for encouraging women to have overly sexual thoughts and become dissatisfied with their husbands, and yet has also been criticised by others for not making women dissatisfied enough with their husbands, gender roles etc."

They get us coming and going.

Yeah they do. We have the choice to take what we take out of a book. Many of the romance books I've read (Outlander series stands out in front) have made me take a more romantic approach when looking at my hubby. After years of too many "rollercoaster" relationships, I'm not the most romantic woman on the face of the earth. lol

People seem to find anything that was done by someone else, easy to criticize and judge.

"They that can't do..." tend to pontificate a lot:P

Men who are frankly puzzled by or live in terror of a woman's sexuality - or other women who think they have to hide theirs to be taken seriously in a "man's world".  <Yawn>.  I no longer hide my covers & titles like I used to when I was younger and more naive.  People should worry more about what they do, and less about everyone else.  I'm sorry if some dried-up mothball in her business suit chooses to look down her esoteric nose on my reading selections, but I've decided that my tastes in literature are just that - my tastes, and nobody else's business but mine.  I used to slink into the romance isle, feeling like a shoplifter or something, but not anymore.  I only have to look at the sales figures to know that I'm not an oddity, I'm an average woman.  I think if more average women would hold their heads up and thumb their noses at such judgemental attitudes, a lot of repressed and regressed attitudes would start to change.

I think that Romance novels have actually helped my past relationships...they have made me look at some of the minor details and gestures in the relationship and see how they can be considered romantic ---- if not the over-the-top notions most people have about "romance". And who gives a rip what someone reads....I have known guys that read romance novels....I love it! That quote sounded like something from 200 years ago? Was it?

I'll tell you what,  the only thing that could cause me to become dissatisfied with my husband is my husband!