Here's an idea I have always struggled with and would love to know what you all think.
In modern romance literature, I think the trend we are seeing leans towards a more independent, self-reliant, can-stand-on-her-own-two-feet kind of herione who can make her way in the world just fine, thank you. And this, as most of you might recall, is quite a shift in the way women have been written about in the past--or, should I say, at least in those novels I perused anywhere from 10-5 years ago. As writers, and more importantly, as women, we should be celebrating this shift in public thought and engaging these stories with discussion and commentary. I have, however, noticed one particular plaguing problem with this Miss Independent kind of heroine and that comes in with the hero.
The problem is this: while the herione might be poor but independent, the hero tends to be slightly older, always good looking, and incredibly wealthy, thus saving our heroine from a life of run of the mill clothing and rings that aren't 5 carat Harry Winston works of art. Why must the heroine always be "saved" by someone else? Is there a book any of you guys can think of in which the hero and heroine both struggle at least financially? And what do you think of all the stories we tell our daughters and sisters, and sometimes ourselves, where the girl looks forward to the day that the handsome prince comes and sweeps her off her feet? And is it really wrong to want that fantasy? I'd be curious to see where everyone stands on this and what, if anything we as writers can do about it.
Cinderella
Last year on the 2007 Challenge, ChrissieSue posted a question about Cinderella vs. Wonder Woman. At the time, I immediately thought CInderella was passé in modern culture...but as soon as she posed the question, I started seeing the modern Cinderella story in many of my romance reads. The Harlequin Romance line has some great Cinderella stories. Also, the Everlasting Love romance, The Secret Dreams of Emily Porter by Judith Raxten was a superb romance dealing with grief and loss and had a Cinderella element. I think modern Cinderella stories include a psychological element when the hero sweeps the heroine off her feet by healing past hurts.
Personally I would love to see Cinderella without all the rich heroes. I have seen some where the hero is a hard worker and then one discovers only later he has money. I would really enjoy seeing a hero who is a hard worker and has perserverance more than money, especially in today's society when outrageous sums of money are often equated with corruption and CEO malfeasance.
I don't have children. My mom was one of the first women to go through a divorce in her social circle. Of course, I heard Cinderella stories but after my mom's experience, I was told that a girl should NEVER depend on a man in terms of money because divorce happened to so many women of her generation. Even if the family was ok, divorce devastated the woman financially. Also, when I grew up, deadbeat dads were never forced to pay child support and were often excused socially too for their actions. I think her generation's stories were maybe the opposite extreme as Cinderella. Real love requires trust and working together.
AKA Merri
Family Challenge Team: The Spine Breakers with my dh Glenn AKA Phaedrus