Can Romance Novels Be Hazardous To Your Health?

By promoting idealized relationships full of multiple orgasms, condom-less sex, and trouble-free pregnancies, relationship expert Susan Quilliam believes romance novels are having an adverse effect on the sexual health of women.

In a paper published in the Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care, Quilliam writes that “a huge number of the issues we see in our clinics and therapy rooms are influenced by romantic fiction.”

“We teach that sex may be wonderful and relationships loving, but neither are ever perfect and that idealizing them is the short way to heartbreak,” she continues.

Quillaim is also concerned that condoms are only mentioned in 11.5 percent of romantic novel rendezvous, and that non-consensual sex is often portrayed.

Not mentioned in  Quillaim’s critical paper was the way in which romance novels also thrust Fabio onto the world.

[Philly.com]