While the romance genre has seen its ups and downs (like every genre has), it has created a space for many women to experience feelings of love and pleasure in a safe and private space. Because of the magnitude of the genre, there is something for every reader. Female pleasure has been policed by others for too long, and the romance genre has created a space where women can experience what they want when they want. Time and time again, media that is targeted towards female audiences has been belittled by the public, including romantic fiction. With that has come feelings of shame and embarrassment for those who enjoy reading romances. It is my hope that this paper conveys the value the romantic genre has in the literary world and the many ways it can empower its readers. (29)