This thesis explores the implications for rape myths throughout paranormal romance novels. Radical feminism argues that power, sexuality and anger are key components in understanding rape and that media, particularly pornographic media, has sexually dehumanized women, thus creating an atmosphere in which rape is tolerated (Brownmiller 1999; Dines 2010; Dworkin 1997; Jensen 2007; Paul 2005). Using this theory, this thesis analyzes the paranormal romance novels impact on its readers and their thoughts in regards to the characters in the novels and their sexual encounters. Other research included former research on romance novels, rape myths and the effects of pornography on both men and women.
This thesis found that readers were aware of the sexual aggression in the paranormal romance novels, describing them as violent, pornographic or borderline rape. All subjects agreed that the sexual encounters were somewhat intolerable to read and two of the subjects refuse to read the sexual encounters due to the pornographic and graphic nature of the sexual encounters.
This thesis also explores pornography and its relationship to paranormal romance novels. The research was able to provide linkages to pornography in regards to the sexual encounters between the hero and heroine, implicating pornography's infiltration of mainstream culture. This thesis argues that pornography has created a shift in paranormal romance novels that have made them more sexually graphic and violent, eliciting a possible culture of women who are more tolerant of sexual aggression and violence.
This thesis also explores the paranormal romance novel and its implication for rape myths throughout the story. The research was able to provide linkages to rape myths through a detailed content analysis of four paranormal romance novels and interviews with five long term readers that also implicated the sexual violence associated with paranormal romance novels.
The abstract: