This study of female adolescent romance readers examines the unique social and discursive pressures that lead members of this particular gender/ social / age group to pursue romance reading and help articulate certain meanings to them. (238)
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It is alarming to think that teenage girls are learning about sex from a text that portrays the abusive treatment of women by men until the last pages of a book, that explains sex as an act that never has repercussions such as pregnancy or health problems, and that describes communication between women and men as always “miscommunication.” Readers’ comments also indicated their belief that all men or at least the “best” men are like the heroes in the stories. (245)
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Although the readers indicate that they change hair styles or the way they talk to others, although their felt empowerment and vicarious pleasures in the text lead them to believe that they are empowered, their empowerment is temporary. The readers’ statements that they have changed demonstrates that they feelthey are in control of their actions and feelings, when, actually, they are not. Real changes in their social position, gender position, character, physical traits, or behaviors have not been accomplished. (247)
It does seem as though Moffitt thinks she knows more about these readers than they do themselves, and she has extremely high expectations of what it might be possible for books to accomplish (otherwise, why mention that the books have not changed the readers' social position, physical traits etc?).
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It does seem as though Moffitt thinks she knows more about these readers than they do themselves, and she has extremely high expectations of what it might be possible for books to accomplish (otherwise, why mention that the books have not changed the readers' social position, physical traits etc?).