Introducing Women's Erotica: a new subgenre of Erotica, and a necessary one

[Bramblethorn]

It might be true as a generalisation that women are more interested than men in stories which focus on emotional journeys*. But I feel like labelling that kind of content "women's fiction" is only likely to exacerbate that situation, which I don't see as desirable.

*Although I'd suggest that there are a lot of stories in LW which are about emotional journeys - "how does a guy recover from betrayal and divorce?" being a popular theme - and it would feel odd to describe that category as "women's fiction".

 

[MelissaBaby]

It might be true as a generalisation that women are more interested than men in stories which focus on emotional journeys*. But I feel like labelling that kind of content "women's fiction" is only likely to exacerbate that situation, which I don't see as desirable.

*Although I'd suggest that there are a lot of stories in LW which are about emotional journeys - "how does a guy recover from betrayal and divorce?" being a popular theme - and it would feel odd to describe that category as "women's fiction".

I think a more accurate generalization might be that men don't like to admit they like tearjerkers.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

I think a more accurate generalization might be that men don't like to admit they like tearjerkers.

That's an undeniable truth. I do think that men's and women's tearjerkers are not the same though.

 

[LizVegas79]

I think a more accurate generalization might be that men don't like to admit they like tearjerkers.

I agree. My husband is an ex-jock and would never admit it in a thousand years. But he'll watch to the end anytime I watch one.

That's an undeniable truth. I do think that men's and women's tearjerkers are not the same though.

I TOTALLY agree with this too.

I've rarely seen my hub's shed a tear over a love story.

But if there is a dog who dies in it. Or a mom. Or a dad. Better find the tissues!

 

[Bramblethorn]

I think a more accurate generalization might be that men don't like to admit they like tearjerkers.

Yup. I think there are guys who read Lesbian Sex here because it's a good place to find romance that's not prominently labelled as Romance.

 

[madelinemasoch]

This is just character-driven erotic fiction.

Basically the opposite of simple erotica.

 

[Britva415]

I propose to define Women’s Erotica as “Erotic stories in which the plot is driven by the main character’s emotional journey.”

Calling that "women's erotica" just reinforces stereotypes that emotion is moot to male readers, male authors, and male characters.

it's not "for" a specific group and it's not "by" a specific group, it's "about" a specific thing

In which case "women's stuff" is a bad name for it, because that very strongly implies all of "by," "for" and "about" women.

This kind of division into Male and Female erotica feels crude.

And inaccurate and unnecessary.

I don't love the gendered framing either.

I wonder if what OP wanted was to discuss erotica with women, no men allowed, rather than really to ghettoize "women's erotica" as something separate and novel while reinforcing stereotypes about both men, readers writers and characters, and women, readers writers and characters.

What she seems to have actually asked for was maybe more focused on discussing erotica writing with other authors than on getting people to agree on a name for a style or genre.

Maybe I'm wrong. Someone 'splain it to me.

 

[DreamingOfMyEx]

So, basically ... Literotica meets Lifetime Movie Network with some Oprah thrown in, because women matter.
Meanwhile, I continue to pick through the rubble for the sort of Femdom stories I like because creating a category for a miniscule 87.5% of the male population here is an absurd idea.

 

[MelissaBaby]

So, basically ... Literotica meets Lifetime Movie Network with some Oprah thrown in, because women matter.
Meanwhile, I continue to pick through the rubble for the sort of Femdom stories I like because creating a category for a miniscule 87.5% of the male population here is an absurd idea.

Sorry, bub. I'll run right out to the kitchen and make you a story and a sandwich.

 

[DreamingOfMyEx]

Sorry, bub. I'll run right out to the kitchen and make you a story and a sandwich.

As much as I appreciate the offer, I hope you don't I'm being chauvinistic and insensitive by insisting on some guarantee the story is Femdom themed, and that you not put mayo on my sandwich.

 

[TheRedChamber]

As much as I appreciate the offer, I hope you don't I'm being chauvinistic and insensitive by insisting on some guarantee the story is Femdom themed, and that you not put mayo on my sandwich.

Note to all active professional dommes:
All of DreamingOfMyEx sessions to involve masochistic mayo play in some shape or form.

 

[DreamingOfMyEx]

Note to all active professional dommes:
All of DreamingOfMyEx sessions to involve masochistic mayo play in some shape or form.

What makes you think I can afford a professional? I use Miracle Whip instead of real Mayo.

 

[Levorotatory]

Skip everything that I've written above and cut to the chase. This thread is yet another example of the staggeringly outdated and incomplete category system on lit. If you write to a common kink, there's not much problem, but if you write to an uncommon kink, or heaven forbid vanilla, you're on your own, lost in a sea of obscurity. The entire category system needs to be overhauled.

It would have been better if the site never used categories at all and had a better tagging / coding system. Top level categories don't really work because most of them aren't mutually exclusive.

 

[AwkwardMD]

It would have been better if the site never used categories at all and had a better tagging / coding system. Top level categories don't really work because most of them aren't mutually exclusive.

I've been advocating for this since 2014

 

[THBGato]

As a reader though, (not a writer) I look forward to this discussion and, hopefully, some examples? (hint, hint)

Check out this list: https://www.literotica.com/authors/THBGato/lists?listid=20035131

Called "total tearjerkers", it's all about emotional journeys. (Note: all lesbian sex)

 

[Jackie.Hikaru]

I've rarely seen my hub's shed a tear over a love story.

But if there is a dog who dies in it. Or a mom. Or a dad. Better find the tissues!

First time I ever caught my dad shedding a tear was the ending to Terminator 2.

 

[Jackie.Hikaru]

Called "total tearjerkers", it's all about emotional journeys. (Note: all lesbian sex)

I was just thinking, there's definitely a category that features a ton of stories focusing on the emotional journey of women, but then I remembered it was all gay women.

 

[Kasumi_Lee]

There were (maybe still are ) some adult film companies owned and operated by women. Their stuff was/is different from the mainstream stuff.

They're still around. Bellesa is one of them.

 

[StillStunned]

I hope we can get @StillStunned to jump in here and tell us about "male chick lit." He recommended some stories by Mike Gayle which clarified for me that "chick lit" is "emotional journey" lit. So I see the OP as wanting an erotica category that focuses on an emotional journey, by an MC of any sex or gender. (Just recently got educated about "gender" referring to identity... It's all a little exhausting.)

I guess I'd add that "chick lit" or "women's fiction" involves "an emotional journey involving a relationship."

I'm not sure I can add much. Mike Gayle is really the only male chick lit I know, and I haven't even been keeping up with his work for a few years now.

Based on his books, though, I'd say that the premise would have to start out as something a little more unusual than "boy meets girl and discovers he has emotions". Something that men can relate to as "blokes", or at least see themselves relating to: moving to a new town as an adult and trying to make friends; discovering that a one-night stand at age 18 led to something more; worrying about the cat who stayed with the ex after the break-up.

If you add an "emotional journey" to a "blokey premise", does this become "women's lit for men" (to use the term in this thread)? If so, then pretty much every story that's not a straight-up adventure/mystery/stroker probably qualifies. And as has already been mentioned several times here, plenty authors write that kind of layer into their stories already.

But here's a thought. I don't think random readers come to Literotica looking for an emotional journey, or at least not first and foremost. They're looking for erotica, not the next Booker Prize winner. If they happen to find something that resonates with them on an emotional level, they'll stick around and look for more. But I don't think the site caters predominantly to that readership. And also, if clicks mean advertising revenue, they'd prefer readers to have to click more to find what they want.

 

[Rob_Royale]

But here's a thought. I don't think random readers come to Literotica looking for an emotional journey, or at least not first and foremost. They're looking for erotica, not the next Booker Prize winner.

This is my thinking as well. They might not be looking for a stroker, but they are coming for something that increases their heart rate a bit. But I think most readers aren't disappointed when their heart strings get tugged a bit. I got this comment on my recent story that is a little emotional.

by Toro1886 on 08/21/2024
Wonderfully written. Not the kind of story I came to Literotica for...but I'm so very glad that I read it. Heartfelt, emotional and sweet.

As a subgenre, I don't know, because I think Women's Erotica will mean different things to even different women. So just defining it will be more confusing than why a non-monogamy category is called Loving Wives.

 

[Bazzle]

Interestingly...as ever with these things...

The original OP has not responded to any of the comments.

Is it another way of stirring up the AH crowd?

 

[onehitwanda]

I was just thinking, there's definitely a category that features a ton of stories focusing on the emotional journey of women, but then I remembered it was all gay women.

There are dozens of us! Dozens!

 

[summer_reine]

I agree that the emotional aspect of erotica is a growing and increasingly desired subgenre. But is it perhaps a bit limiting to call it women's erotica? Why not simply have a gender neutral emotional erotica name. Men's emotion is I think even more ignored and repressed than women. And this is not to downplay the necessity of women's voices rising higher in modern culture, it's just a thought.

I write from a female empowering perspective as part of my journey to living it in my real life. But I can rarely find a story that speaks of men's emotional journey. Or perhaps it would be better to let that one develop on its own as a separate subgenre.

 

[StillStunned]

There are dozens of us! Dozens!

Are you sure they're not just your imaginary friends?

 

[StillStunned]

But is it perhaps a bit limiting to call it women's erotica? Why not simply have a gender neutral emotional erotica name.

Emotica