ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses how middle-and working-class young women, age’s twelve through fifteen from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, construct their femininity while reading adolescent romance fiction in school. It analyzes how the political climate of both the larger society and the classroom shape and constrain meaning production. The chapter considers the ways in which romance-novel reading relates to readers' future expectations as women. It provides a context for romance fiction in schools by reference to recent events within American society and their relation to the romance publishing industry. Many segments of the culture industry, particularly publishing, are owned by multinational corporations whose interests are politically conservative. An important theme is how middle-and working-class young women, constructs their femininity while reading adolescent romance fiction. Gender, class, race, ethnicity, age, and sexuality are but cultural constructs and therefore popular romance-fiction reading exploits the many ideological strains that exist within society, and it represents the continuing struggle over women's place in the world.
