This blog is for those 18 and older.

Monday, September 21, 2015

Kissing Alphas


The majority of romance novels involve an alpha male. They are the heartthrob of the story. Their kisses stir passion, desire, and fantasy. They take what they want without question or apology. Sigh!

I love them.

And then I read an article. It was based on these alphas and why, as writers, we should no longer allow them to dominate. That they should ask for kisses instead of stealing them. That, as women, we should stand against such behavior.

Hmm.

Yes, I understand the point. In the real world, a man can’t go around backing women into walls and kissing them stupid without their consent. But in novels, we are setting the scene, the heroine and her hero have an undeniable attraction. Her actions and words all give signals that the man reads. Sometimes he might go in slow, predatorily if he’s not one hundred percent sure and is trying to get a reaction. And I guarantee he will get a reaction. Isn’t that seeking her consent?

Not all of these men are alphas either. When my beta side-character becomes the main hero in his own story, he switches. He’s now the leading alpha in his own domain. That doesn’t mean he changes characteristics and mannerisms. It just means that it’s his turn to step up to the plate. He now has a chance to get the girl. He will look for similar signals as his alpha friends.

It’s a natural instinct. As writers we didn’t create these instincts, but we do use them.  

What are your thoughts?

6 comments:

  1. I think it's good either way. Sometimes it's a nice confidence boost to see a woman take the lead and take what she wants but a lot depends on the story you are reading too and what the characters are like.

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  2. I think it's good either way. Sometimes it's a nice confidence boost to see a woman take the lead and take what she wants but a lot depends on the story you are reading too and what the characters are like.

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  3. Hmm. I'm of 2 minds about this. Let me preface this by saying I read a lot of Harlequin Romances when I was young & the Heroes were al alpha males, although I didn't know that term at the time. They took what they wanted without asking, expecting the woman to subjugate her wishes to his. A lot of the time, she wanted what he did, eventually, but at first it was a struggle for her to accept him & his ways. I have to admit, that this colored my thinking on how relationships were supposed to work in the real world & took some sh*t from boyfriends I shouldn't have because of it. So, on the one hand, these stories can be role models for younger readers, to show them that there should be respect between mates, and askng permission

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  4. ...shows that respect. On the other hand, as a pure fantasy, being dominated by a man who knows what his woman wants is hot stuff. But he has to show some vulnerability towards her as well, in order for it to be a true romance. In the end, I think there is room for both kinds of alphas in story telling.

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  5. Plus there are ways for a man to ask permission without actually saying the words. Unspoken permission is still permission in romances. Something I'd like to see is turning the tables on the alpha & giving the reigns to the woman occasionally. Big strong Alpha gets tied to the bed & teased & satisfied without going ballistic about not being in control every minute. Ymmv, just my 2 cents!

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