| Acknowledgements | 第3-4页 |
| 摘要 | 第4-6页 |
| Abstract | 第6-7页 |
| Ⅰ. Introduction | 第10-18页 |
| A. Research Background | 第10-12页 |
| B. Research Purpose and Research Argument | 第12-13页 |
| C. U.S.Popular Contemporary Romance Novels | 第13页 |
| D. Lisa Kleypas and Her Travis Family Series | 第13-16页 |
| E. Thesis Structure | 第16-18页 |
| Ⅱ. Literature Review | 第18-25页 |
| A. Gender-Based Romance Studies | 第18-21页 |
| B. Economic Aspect of Romance Studies | 第21-23页 |
| C. Research Argument and the Working Definition of Self-Actualization | 第23-25页 |
| Ⅲ. Classification of Women in Lisa Kleypas' Travis Family Series | 第25-29页 |
| A. Rationale of Classification | 第25-26页 |
| B. The Class Positions of the Four Heroines | 第26-29页 |
| Ⅳ. Women's Paths to Self-Actualization in Personal Pursuits | 第29-40页 |
| A. Top Class: Pursuit of Self-Determination | 第29-32页 |
| 1. Educational Choice | 第29-30页 |
| 2. Occupational Choice | 第30-31页 |
| 3. Spousal Choice | 第31-32页 |
| B. Intermediate Class: Pursuit of Occupational Success | 第32-35页 |
| 1. Enthusiasm for the Job | 第33-34页 |
| 2. Sacrifice for the Job | 第34-35页 |
| C. Bottom Class: Struggle for Economic Independence | 第35-40页 |
| 1. Being Visionary | 第36页 |
| 2. Obtaining Educational Qualification | 第36-37页 |
| 3. Landing a Job | 第37-40页 |
| Ⅴ. Women's Paths to Self-Actualization in Gender Relations | 第40-52页 |
| A. Top Class:Pursuit of Gender Equality | 第40-44页 |
| 1. Economic Equality | 第40-41页 |
| 2. Emotional Equality | 第41-43页 |
| 3. Sexual Equality | 第43-44页 |
| B. Intermediate Class: Pursuit of Passion | 第44-49页 |
| 1. Physical Passion | 第45-46页 |
| 2. Intellectual Passion | 第46-49页 |
| C. Bottom Class: Pursuit of Sexual Satisfaction | 第49-52页 |
| Ⅵ. Women's Paths to Self-Actualization in Family Relations | 第52-62页 |
| A. Top Class: In Pursuit of Support | 第52-55页 |
| 1. Material Support | 第52-54页 |
| 2. Emotional Support | 第54-55页 |
| B. Intermediate Class: Pursuit of Emotional Comfort | 第55-58页 |
| 1. Distance Creates Beauty | 第56-57页 |
| 2. Bonding with Distant Relations | 第57-58页 |
| C. Bottom Class: Pursuit of Altruism | 第58-62页 |
| 1. Devotion to Her Sister | 第58-59页 |
| 2. Devotion to Her Sister-in-Law | 第59-62页 |
| Ⅶ. Discussion | 第62-70页 |
| A. Teasing out the Findings | 第62-63页 |
| B. Romance as a Mirror: Women's Situations in Today's America | 第63-66页 |
| 1. Women's Upward Mobility through Occupation | 第63-65页 |
| 2. Female-Headed Families | 第65-66页 |
| C. Constructed Reality in Romance Novels and Its Empowering Effect | 第66-70页 |
| 1. Deviation of Romance Reality from Social Reality: Mate Selection | 第66-68页 |
| 2. The Empowering Effect of the Constructed Romance Reality | 第68-70页 |
| Ⅷ. Conclusion | 第70-74页 |
| Works Cited | 第74-79页 |
