"Desirable" Bodies, Choice, and Neoliberalism: The Fictional Romantic Marketplace

from Shelf Love: Romance Novel Discourse · host Andrea Martucci, Christina Fattore

How do romantic narratives explore or influence our ideas of which bodies are "desirable"? Dr. Christina Fattore will introduce us to neoliberalism, and we'll discuss how the ideological focus on individual agency influences our ideas of which bodies are most desirable to acquire in romantic partners and how individuals must produce desirable bodies to create "value" in a romantic marketplace. CW: discussion of diet culture, body size, etc.Guest: Dr. Fattore, associate professor of political science and romance reader and writer.Discussed: Neoliberalism, "desirable" bodies, romantic partners according to dominant cultural ideologiesGuest: Dr. Christina FattoreAssociate professor of political science at West Virginia University as well as an avid romance reader. Currently working on a project on romancelandia and political participation, which was featured in the Washington Post.Website: https://christinafattore.org/Find on Twitter: @cfattorewvuShelf Love:Sign up for the email newsletter list | Website | Patreon | Twitter | Instagram | YouTubeEmail: [email protected]:Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade Shelf Love:NEW! Substack for original writing and stuff | Website | Twitter | Instagram | YouTubeEmail: [email protected]

What this episode covers

NOW PLAYING

0:00 54:38

1×

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Share this episode

Similar Episodes

🍏🍺 Keystone Light Apple Review 🍺🍏

May 8, 2026 ·12m

Mad Dog by MD 20/20 Cans: Purple Drip & Jungle Juice LIVE Review + BONUS Lone Star Beer

May 3, 2026 ·84m

EP 355 - BEING AN ART MODEL with Shadia Elise

Apr 20, 2026 ·57m

THE OMEN (1995) / DAMIEN

Apr 20, 2026 ·75m

THE FIRST OMEN (part 2 of 2)

Apr 16, 2026 ·84m

EP 354 - ANIMAL WHISPERING with NiloO Khodadadeh

Apr 13, 2026 ·59m

Similar Podcasts

Tales Of A Superstar DJ The Insomniac Spun seemingly out of nowhere from her complacent life in the corporate world, turned seemingly overnight from 16-Hour shift work and into the life of a literally starving artist and working musician, The Protagonist navigates her supposed rise to fame and superstardom on a journey through spiritual awakening, coming-of-age, and intimate self-realization--guided by an omnipresent force and equipped with the power of love, magic, and music. {Enter The Multiverse.} [The Festival Project] The Festival Project, Inc.™ is a multidimensional multimedia platform which encompasses exploratory and artistic social personifications and expressions on cosmic theory, spirituality, growth, health & wellness, philosophy and theoretic dynamics in entertainment such as music, design, film, television, radio, dance and festival culture, art, fashion, literature, and science. The Festival Project™ and its subsidiary Non-Profit, The Collective Complex © aims to challenge modern artistic and philosop Explicit The Uncaged Pod Jess MacMillan The Uncaged Pod is the podcast for bold, soul-led women who are ready to break free from the cages of perfectionism, people-pleasing, and limiting beliefs. Hosted by Jess MacMillan, mama, keynote speaker, and women's empowerment advocate, this show delivers raw conversations, powerful insights, and unapologetic truths that will inspire you to reclaim your voice, rewrite your story, and rise with unstoppable confidence.Each week, Jess and her guests dive into topics around leadership, personal growth, entrepreneurship, and motherhood, offering real-life strategies, soulful reflections, and empowering stories to help you lead, live, and love uncaged.Whether you're an entrepreneur, a creative, or a woman who’s remembering who she really is, The Uncaged Pod is your invitation to step into your power and live life on your own terms. Explicit The Pod and the Pendulum Mike Snoonian The Pod and The Pendulum is a new horror movie podcast covering every movie in every franchise. From heavy hitters like Friday the 13th, to the direct-to-video titles like Subspecies, we’ve got you covered. We feature guests on every show in order to discuss their love of movies like The Blair Witch Project, Scream, Alien, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Jaws, Halloween, The Conjuring, and many more. Support the show and become a patron today at www.patreon.com/podandthependulum and get access to exclusive bonus content. Tweet us at @podandpendulumEmail us at [email protected] a patron and receive bonus shows for as little as $2 a month at https://www.patreon.com/podandthependulum Explicit Shut Up I Love It Sasha Feiler and Joe Cabello Many years ago, Sasha Feiler and Joe Cabello met in line for an improv show. They were young, dumb, and full of it. What followed were comedy shows so explicit, “genitalia” was practically a term of endearment.Fast forward 5 dogs, 6 cats, and way too many weird inside jokes later, Sasha and Joe are no longer young or dumb—but they’re still brimming with you-know-what. Here, they’ve teamed up to bring you a podcast where they interview a guest who passionately defends something universally hated, misunderstood, forgotten, overlooked, Mandela-effected, canceled—you name it. The key? They LOVE it. From toupees... to B-movies... to aliens, psychedelics, and the occasional surprise character, Sasha and Joe are here to spread love to the world that birthed them (but maybe should’ve used protection).So come and get that love because no one else will give it to you like we do.Also, don’t forget to check out the Patreon Bonus version of the show:https://www.patreon.com/c/ShutUpILoveItP Explicit

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Shelf Love: Romance Novel Discourse?

This episode is 54 minutes long.

When was this Shelf Love: Romance Novel Discourse episode published?

This episode was published on October 5, 2021.

What is this episode about?

Can I download this Shelf Love: Romance Novel Discourse episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.

URL copied to clipboard!