Donna Maree Hanson, Author, Phd in Creative Writing

Recently I’ve been delving into retro Mill & Boon romances to sample what there is and what might be of interest in my PhD research into Feminism in Popular romance. It is an interesting time because feminism is being debated and discussed in social media too. There are many schools of thought with regard to feminism that include diverse opinions and finding your way through them can be difficult. As a human being I consider myself equal to others, although I have to admit that I have not always been treated as such.
After listening to Caitlyn Moran’s How to be a woman, I can definitely agree with the respect principle. Treat everyone with respect as if they were yourself or your best friend or your mate. As a woman that’s what I’m interested in being respected as a person, regardless of my gender or colour or religion. Although I wave my hand to say I am a white privileged female, although not always privileged.
As a person/woman I want to be recognised for my abilities. Not patronised, not given excuses as to why I might be overlooked. I certainly had that tripe thrown at me in the 1980s. “I’m sorry, Donna, we only promote men. Women get married, have babies and leave.”
I noted this from Highland Gathering by Elizabeth Graham, Mills & Boon from 1983 (p 8-9).
The heroine’s father, hotel tycoon, says this to his daughter who works with him in the business.
“James McKay’s mouth pursed drily. ‘You know you’re competent to do that, and I know you’re competent to do that, but the Mazzini Brothers would never believe in a thousand years that a woman is level headed enough to find her way out of the kitchen or-um-the bedroom.’ He shrugged “It would offend them if I sent you, and I really don’t want to do that as this time.’”
Looking back at this work and this time, I recall this embedded attitude to women. I found this book struck a nerve with me. It made me angry. Not for this point above. That was the interesting part because hey popular romance novels did discuss feminist issues!
Since I’ve started my preliminary reading I have found I write more notes about the books that upset me the most. This particular book was interesting. For about a day I mulled over it and then I got it. The inexplicable behaviour of the male and female leads made sense. She was standing up for herself by demanding respect, recognition and romance (love actually) and he was being a typical male of the time, trying to order her about, expecting her to unpack his clothes (wifely duties), trying to take control of the business she was running. This made me hate the male character who had been a promising romantic lead. But then I got it. She was having the man, the relationship on the terms she wanted. Bravo!