The whole 'woman must be subordinate to the man' is way older than Harlequin, though. We're making progress in that area, but there's millenia of back history to get through. I'm not sure Harlequin is to blame for that.
The Romance, thing, though. Why the hell did that movement take off so hard? And why does it appeal to women so much, when it started as a boys-club literary thing?
Too tired to think of answers today. Just questions.