UPDATED TO ADD… The Survey was temporarily down… fixed now! If you haven’t taken it, please do!
*copied from my personal blog*
And besides… we know the stigmas are generally wrong.
You know the ones
- trashy
- full of nothing but sex
- only bored housewives read them
- smart women don’t read those
- women only read them because they dream about being the heroine
- they are some shameful secret to hide
Did I miss any of the important ones?
I know of at least (and this is just in my online acquaintances or my circle of friends) a bunch of secretaries/administrative assistants, two doctors, a ton of nurses, four or five lawyers, stay at home moms, bookstore employees & owners, EMTs, paramedics, nursing assistants, pharmacists, salespeople, teachers, website designers, business professionals, small business owners, accountants, department store employees… and yes, some housewives, but I can’t say they are bored housewives.
Kind of a wide audience, huh?
So tell me more… take the survey!
And please… if something doesn’t work, let me know!
Hi Shiloh,
I’ll admit that I didn’t start reading romances until a couple of years ago when a friend noticed I was interested in a book she was reading and told me I should try them. Before that I hardly ever read at all (I might finish 2 books in a good year), last year I read 94. I don’t think that I ever considered people who read romances any of those stigmas mentioned above. I was raised that not everyone likes the same things that I might so I shouldn’t judge. I hope I didn’t. My mom, who is an avid non-fiction reader, was so thrilled that I was reading again, she didn’t care what it was that I was reading. *g*
Now about the stigmas I would love to know where “they” came up with the word bored housewife and who “they” are? These people who came up with that really need to be smacked!!!!! I’m also a stay at home mom but my question is when do I get to stay home? I don’t have time to be bored. My kids are in scouts, band, guitar lessons, gymnastics, plus other school related things. Yeah, I have my momments that I just sit and play around on the computer or read, but there are always interruptions from the husband or kids. I don’t really get vacation time, sick leave or breaks. I really want a better title that more accurately describes what I do.
Great survey Shiloh and I hope somehow, someday these stigmas are broken.
Laura J.
I put the romance snobbery in the same bag as TV snobbery–you know the “I only watch PBS” or documentaries, or whatever? Long before I started reading romance the TV comment always made me roll my eyes, so the romance ones pretty much have the same effect.
I think it’s just an unfortunate human trait to have the need to have something to look down on–happens in about everything it seems.
My first encounter that I remember with a romance being put down was when I discovered someone from my hometown was published. I was impressed, but someone else quickly stepped up to straighten me out–saying “Oh, but she only writes those ‘little’ books.” I didn’t understand the comment then and I still don’t.
So, I think that is one you missed–that romances are easier to write, that they don’t “count” as real books and even that there is a formula to writing them. And by this I don’t mean just a formula like the writer’s journey or that there will be a happy ending. I mean that you just plug in different names and boom you have a book. Yes, I have encountered people face to face who actually believed that.
Boggles the mind…
That’s a good questioin….
If more people would have that mindset, most of the stigmas associated with romance probably wouldn’t exist. Or at least not on such a large scale. Sigh….
Yep. I did forget that one. I’m sure there are more I forgot.
Romances are easier to write……
That’s not just a stigma, but an insult to authors. I really didn’t know what went into writing until I started talking with differant authors (via blogs and loops and author signings). I’m in awe of all authors, many who are doing this (coming up with concepts, researching, writing, re-writing, selling, promoting), while raising small kids, hauling older kids to their activies and working day jobs.
There is no way I could be a writer (I don’t like deadlines
) but I’m glad there are people out there that take chance and pursue their dream to be published so that when I do get some time to my self, I can escape in to a really good romance novel!
Laura J.
When I was in college, I didn’t have (or make) time for reading for fun. As I was starting my career, I thought all of my reading time had to go to advancing my career. It wasn’t until I started traveling because of my career that I found I wanted to read something else. And yes, I was a romance snob. What was i thinking?! Now I can’t get enough. Now I finally have more balance in my career and my life. And reading romances is a huge part of that. In 2007, I read 304 books….266 of those were romance!!! So far in 2008, I’ve read 27 books; 23 of those are romances. Now I’m just a romance addict.
304????
Oh man, I am so jealous. whine.
Yeah, Nou is an overachiever! I just surprised she didn’t tell how many of those I told her to buy!! heeheehee Last time I went shopping with her she accused me of being a bad influence on her!