Beta, Gamma, and Alpha Heroines

No, I'm not talking about sororieties, but the types of heroines in romance novels. You see, recently I read Jill Shalvis's post on her blog about the heroine of her latest WIP, which she describes as a woman who is so down-and-gritty that it scares her. That comment made me laugh for two reasons: 1) it's about time heroines are (really) strong women and 2) I can't imagine her scared of her own creation (like Dr. Frankstein!). I'm out to give you all my money but all I'm askin in return, honey, is to give me my proper respect when you get home, yeah baby, when you get home. - Aretha Franklin, 1960's Looking back, the heroines in romance novels have changed - a lot. I remember when I started reading romance novels 15 years ago, Beta heroines dominated the genre. These needy, mousy (although extremely pretty and very well-endowed) women depended on their ultra-Alpha men (aka Macho Men, Chauvinist Pigs) to help - at all times. First I was afraid I was petrified Kept thinking I could never live without you by my side But I spent so many nights thinking how you did me wrong I grew strong I learned how to carry on - Gloria Gaynor, 1970's Then as time went by (and perhaps thanks to a generation of romance writers more influenced by the Women's Lib movement), more and more romance novels featured what I like to call the Gamma heroines. These are independent, witty, free-thinking, successful women. They have college degrees and/or hold jobs. Yet they are vulnerable and femenine, still needing Alpha heroes in their lives for support or their lives won't be complete. (Remember Scarlet in Gone with the Wind?) Here's something I just can't understand If the guy have three girls then he's the man He can either give us some head, sex her off If the girl do the same, then she's a whore - Christina Aguilera and Lil' Kim, 2000's Nowadays, every now and then, the Alpha heroine pops in. This heroine has a bad-ass attitude and a big mouth to back it up. Yes, she is opinionated. Yes, she knows what she wants and how to get it. (She's determined, and she'll streamroll anyone who gets in her way.) Yes, she lives her life on her terms and doesn't need society as a mirror to define her. Therefore, she flaunts society's rules and norms (especially the ones that determine how women should behave). (They remind me of that character, Jacqueline 'Jackie/Jack' Broyer, played by Robin Givens in the forgettable Eddie Murphy movie Boomerang.) Men call them "bitches," and the alpha heroines love every letter that in that word. Women call them "manish," and the alpha heroines give them the finger. I call them women with cojones. It takes a big hero to fall in love with an Alpha heroine, and that's why I love reading about them.