Dr. Maria DeBlassie, educator and writer, on pleasure activism, how romance is a safe place to explore fantasy, emotions, and relationships, how media acts as a conduct manual where people can learn emotional literacy, and the importance of cultivating joy as a form of social justice.We also discuss Helen Hoang’s The Kiss Quotient, which Maria discussed with her students in class, through the lens of pleasure activism.Shelf Love:Sign up for the email newsletter list | Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Email: Andrea@shelflovepodcast.comGuest: Dr. Maria DeBlassieTwitter | Goodreads HEA All Day | Instagram | WebsiteWe Read:The Kiss Quotient by Helen HoangShow Notes:58 Romance Novellas For A Quick Hit of HopeCheck out the updated websiteBorderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza by Gloria E. AnzaldúaWhen Maria mentioned the survey of romance readers, she was referring to Reading the Romance by Janice Radway, which was published in 1984.I then referred to something that I had read that compared Radway to other romance texts. Turns out that was Pamela Regis’s Keynote that I read in JPRS titled: What Do Critics Owe the Romance? Keynote Address at the Second Annual Conference of the International Association for the Study of Popular Romance (Published October 12, 2011).Pride and Prejudice. Sex and the City. Are links necessary?Book Club (2018 film)Second wave feminismSexually Speaking by Dr. Ruth WestheimerPleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good by adrienne maree brown - learning how to reclaim your pleasure and your joy as a form of social justice. Maria said in the discussion that she has simplified ideas from this book for her class, and really you should read it for the full discussion about what brown is talking about.Pretty Woman (1990 film) - it’s discussed. You don’t need to watch it if you haven’t already.