Issues of Feminism in the Words of Radway and Moorti

Radway in Women Read the Romance talks about women and how romance literature acts as a means of temporary escape from the real world both figuratively and literally and also as a form of relaxation according to the studies conducted with the female participants. Radway has collected much data from surveys, advising activities, interviews questionnaires and so on to show how women feel and act as a result of those feelings. As Radway says, "they (the women studied) are quite aware that men commonly think themselves superior to women and often mistreat them as a result" (68). These women are married, have kids, and have a lot going on with their lives, but they all share one thing in common - a true love for romance - and they are dying to have it in some way. These women read books of this genre as a way of "denying a present reality. It is better than television" (69). It allows them to fantasize and experience feelings that are missing in their actual lives. They get to play a different role and they get to pretend. It is complete and it is gratifying to these women. These women share a "hint of sadness because life has not given them all that it once promised" (69). Reading books like these gives the opportunity to believe in a fairy tale in order to move on or temporarily let go of pressures and tensions in their way that keep them from doing the things they need to get done. Something is missing in the lives of these women- that is a man that loves them and treats them the way they should be treated. Romance novels allow these women to interact with a man that is their ideal (good romance) in many ways. Dot Evans helps these readers to find good books and avoid the "bad romances" in order to achieve overall satisfaction.



The mistreatment issues found in Radway's article also ties with Moorti's article Cathartic Confessions or Emancipatory Texts? The article examines Oprah episodes that aired between 1989-1991 dealing with rape and other incidents of sexual violence. Again, in the eyes of women, this daytime show strives to give marginalized women the voice that needs to be heard. It acts as an educational session to the public and also as a mentally empowering moment for the victim, "highlighting individual narratives and collective gender identity as well as presenting private acts as socially relevant to the public"(525). Oprah "promotes a 'feminine' mode of discussion and it emphasizes the emotional over the rational" (525). Masciarotte, mentioned in this article, reveals that this hour long talk show is formatted to be "conscious raising, using strategies of the women's movement to rely on personal testimony, speaking out experiences at random, relating and generalizing individual testimonies, and overcoming repressions and delusions" (526). Winfrey has a role as the "interlocutor" in the show which, in the case of the rape victims, allowed them victims to articulate their pain and confusion as if venting to a psychiatrist. On this level, women are able to share their feelings that they feel are not valued to many. Revealing these personal words allow women to feel more publically accepted and understood and therefore more valued. It offers women the experience to come face to face with their nightmare and fixing it therefore making a difference. A "taboo" subject such as rape becomes self-awareness and self-expression.

These two articles point out the struggles that women face and the ways and means of these women handling their pains. Radway and Moorti address the importance of observing these issues and finding ways to fix it.