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Abstract
The nineteenth-century American domestic novel and the contemporary romance novel both mandate that women submit to male authority, espousing a domestic ideology which claims that women exercise a particular form of power over men and the world at large. The contemporary romance has, of course, changed a great deal from its nineteenth-century cousin in its presentation of career-oriented heroines who engage in premarital sexual activity. The contemporary romance has also adapted itself to a variety of cultural forms, including "ethnic" romances and lesbian romances. This flexibility demonstrates that romance itself is a transcultural narrative form which continues to appeal to masses of women readers worldwide. Although the novels are essentially conservative in that they tend to promote a traditional domestic, familial ideology, popular women's novels provide a pleasurable escape for women readers into a world where they have power. Furthermore, it offers women the opportunity to explore psychosexual desires within the safe confines of the texts. The fantasy worlds depicted in both genres emphasize women as strong, capable members of society, and portrays their mates as sensitive and caring; for both, the ultimate goal is securing the love of a good mate. Thus, both the domestic novel and the romance reflect women's concerns about their roles in society, offering utopic resolutions to their anxieties and desires.
