Why do you think a romantic relationship between Babs & Dinah was never explored?

That’s an interesting question.

Hmm.

Well, I can only speak for myself. There was no question they loved each other. But at the time I wrote Bop, even the idea of two women being friends seemed almost subversive to many in the readership. It was wildly important to me to show that a group of women could be friends and love each other and not constantly squabble and fight over guys. 

If you read my bop, there’s almost NO romance of any kind, not gay, not straight, nothing. Very, very little. And part of that was because there was a constant pressure to have heroines have a romantic subplot, always. It’s something males feel very comfortable with for some reason I can’t quite grasp, really. 

So there was a bit of drawing a line in the sand. 

In my mind, they are friends who are sisters. Helena, too. 

It could certainly have gone that way, as long as the friendship remained, I think. 

Tough question, I am not sure what the answer is, to be honest!