The article begins by introducing the audience to Dot Evans, a specialist in the romance genre of literature, and the focus group, women whom employ Dot for information concerning these novels. The group is representative of the larger group whom read romantic style novels. The article goes on to discuss how these women enjoy the "escape" factor of these novels, but do not enjoy the more radical books within the genre that are often overwhelming. Moreover the women ideally enjoyed novels with one powerful women, and an emotional yet masculine man. The author argues, " the ideal romance may thus enable a woman to satisfy vicariously those psychological needs created in her by a patriarchal culture unable to fulfill them". Satisfying the needs she has, that the male figure in her life is unable to.
On the other hand, bad romance novels are categorized by abusive males and men whom are not faithful. The readers want to believe the male front is typical of men, but that the men in their life are not truly bad guys. Modelski labeled this "the mystery of male motives" and the women of Smithton enjoyed the books which placed these mystery motives in a positive light. Books with characteristics of bad romantic novels make the readers uneasy.
Overall, the motivation for reading these books is a, "longing caused by patriarchal marriage's failure to address all their needs" as opposed to a longing for a fairytale life.
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