In historical romances, 18th and 19th century settings, courtship and marriage plots centred on social rules and largely assumed male initiative. Consent was implicit. The FMC was characterized as modest and it created plot tension. Legal and social power imbalances determined the outcome.
In the early to mid-20th century, popular romance stories still relied on seduction, abduction and reluctant FMCs. Many stories positioned the aggressive pursuit as romantic rather than coercive.
In the 1970s-1980s, aka the ‘bodice ripper’ era, explicit sexual content appeared. Novels often featured dominant alpha heroes and scenes with non-reciprocal intensity. Some books romanticized the forceful pursuit. Feminists and critics pushed back.
In the 1990s-2000s there was more diversification in the genre. The stories featured more contemporary heroines, romantic comedy, and category romances that emphasized mutual attraction, but problematic tropes like non-consensual and stalking-as-a-courtship persisted, especially in certain erotic and historical novels.
From 2010 to the present there have been two major trends—an increased awareness and a critique of consent; both were strongly influenced by feminism and #MeToo. Editors, reviewers, and readers more often call out coercive behaviour. Many authors, me included, now write explicit, affirmative consent scenes and negotiated sex play.
The growth of subgenres within romance that feature consent include contemporary, consensual BDSM with SSC/RACK norms, queer romance and include content warnings/labels noting triggers (non-con, assault, age gaps, etc.)
There are still some problematic tropes where consent is fuzzy. Non-consensual or ambiguous sex framed as romantic (rape/light, forced seduction), persistence or stalking as proof of devotion, power imbalance treated as inherently romantic (boss/employee, captor/hostage) without acknowledging the coercion, and the reframing of ‘no’ as provisional or as part of sexual play without clear negotiation.
Whether you are a writer, reader or both, explicit-affirmative-consent scenes and negotiated sexual dynamics are now common and often celebrated. Trigger content warnings, reader advisories, and category labels help readers choose. Editors and readers increasingly expect realistic consequences for abusive or coercive behaviour. Consent violations are less likely to be swept into a tidy happy ending without accountability. More authors now write from survivor-informed perspectives or include trauma-informed arcs.
Continuing issues – problematic scenes are still read and sometimes fetishized. Some readers and authors defend ‘dark’ or problematic tropes as fantasy and marketplace demand keeps those books in circulation. The misunderstanding of BDSM consent persists in popular portrayals that confuse coercion with consensual power play.
Readers want the use of content warnings. Authors should depict explicit negotiation, show affirmative consent, avoid glamourizing coercion, and consider showing consequences if abuse occurs. As for the industry, labeling, sensitivity reads, and informed editing help reduce harm while preserving consensual erotic diversity.
Decide for yourself, in fiction and in life. What works for you?
Escape and enjoy!
