This Women’s Day, Let’s Unabashedly Turn A Page To Sexual Liberation

Tara’s eyes twinkle as she turns the page of her newly bought romance novel, carefully cradled between her college textbook. ‘Just one more chapter’, she tells herself for the third time that night. The courtship between the protagonists reminds Tara of her clandestine love affair with the tantalising world of sensual literature. With each paragraph, she unravels a mysterious passion she never knew existed within herself. Much like Tara, countless women around the world rely on the fictional world of romance novels to find new versions of themselves that had been tucked away from the prying eyes of societal expectations. 

While romance novels have often been dismissed as frivolous entertainment, they have been a significant force in shaping women’s journeys to exploring their sexuality. The intoxicating allure of these novels provides comfort and confidence to women whose desires have often been overlooked or shunned in the real world.

Chapter 1: The Prelude

For many women, romance novels serve as a form of sexual empowerment, allowing them to reclaim agency over their desires and fantasies. SheThePeople spoke to some women to find out the role that such literature has played in their journey to getting comfortable with the idea of sexuality and pleasure.

“If it weren’t for romance novels, I would not have known that there is such a thing as female self-pleasure,” said 27-year-old Amruta, explaining how her teenage self learnt “most sex education” through romance novels. “As a teen, I was reading a novel in which there was a woman character masturbating. I don’t remember the name of the book but the writer had described it in so much detail. At the time I had no idea what exactly that meant because no one openly talks about these things. Even if we discuss sex, women's self-pleasure is still a topic we shy away from.”

Like Amruta, many other women discovered the idea of female sexuality or sexual identity through literature. 24-year-old Simrat also narrated her story. “In high school, I went through a phase of reading Wattpad fanfics that dealt with romance and sexuality. In hindsight, it wasn’t how I’d thought of learning about my sexuality. Almost all the fanfics, some of them queer, opened a new door for me to explore. While it was still on a very surface level, it was a stepping stone to understanding how sexuality is viewed, especially by those around my age. I firmly believe that literature is a human study, it has a way of communicating and throwing light on very important yet usually neglected subjects like sex and sexuality.”

Chapter 2: How Sexuality Evolves, A Saga

Exploring sexuality is not just limited to teenagers, but a life-long process. Remember Ratna Pathak Shah's character in the 2016 film Lipstick Under My Burkha? For some women, this continuous exploration can be equated to a jigsaw puzzle, where pieces shift and interlock over time, revealing new patterns and possibilities.

Simrat explained how her sexuality has evolved from her early Wattpad days to more complex narratives. "As my reading list evolved, so did my views; I realised that sexuality was a lot deeper than just the physical. While not typical romance books, pieces like Norwegian Wood (Haruki Murakami), Normal People (Sally Rooney), Eleanor & Park (Rainbow Rowell), and A Little Life (Hanya Yanagihara), showed me that I need first build some layer of trust to truly understand my sexuality, whether with myself or a potential partner. It is a moment of vulnerability and without a safe space to explore, this exploration could leave me too open than I’d prefer to be."

For 34-year-old Leena, books have always been an escape from the confining rules of society. "In my late 20s, I was not very comfortable with my sexuality as a single woman because I was brought up in a conservative household. I always thought sexual arousal was a "manly" trait, but romance novels have helped me let that shame go. Some of my favourite works by writers like Sonali Dev and Jennifer Cruise have taught me that women are allowed to have complex sexual emotions too. This has helped me communicate better with my partner and be happy with my body."

Books That Normalise Women's Desires

As Tara closes the final pages of her novel, she feels a sense of fulfilment and empowerment wash over her. In the world of romance fiction, she has found validation for her deepest desires and fantasies. 

While some may critique romance literature for its portrayal of unrealistic fantasies or corny plotlines, others see it as a vital space for women to find confidence in their desires. This women's history month, let's pledge to let go of the stigma attached to reading romance or sexual literature. Here are some recommendations that could help you explore new sides to your sexuality.

Say You’ll Be My Jaan (Naina Kumar): A fake relationship turns into a fake proposal, soon transforming into true love. This rom-com is relatable to most contemporary South Asian women seeking 'the one'-- balancing independence with familial expectations. 

The Catch (Amy Lee): Two people from two contrasting backgrounds feel a strong connection. The story follows the protagonists navigating their different worlds and the burgeoning idea of making sacrifices for each other.

Happily Never After (Lynn Painter): True to its name, this isn't your typical meet-cute tale where everything seems dreamy and romantic. This love story deals with the difficult feelings of betrayal, loss, and revenge.

Assistant to the Villain (Hannah Nicole Maehrer): This #1 New York Times Bestseller is all the rage on social media for its saucy plot involving a forbidden infatuation. The book follows a woman navigating her confusing emotions when she develops a crush on her nefarious boss.

Happy Place (Emily Henry): Two exes spin a web of lies to make their friends believe they are still the 'perfect couple' everyone looks up to. However, how long could they keep up the deception? The feel-good novel explores the themes of friendship, romance, and nostalgia.