50 Shades of Grey

Hi all,

Sorry it's been a little while. I'm sure lots of you were waiting with bated breath for my next post...


My article today is entitled 50 Shades of Grey. Unlike my previous posts with book titles as headings this is NOT a book review. I must make it very clear that I have not read that disgusting piece of garbage, or will I be any time soon. However, I feel I know enough about, certainly if not the book then the hype around the book, to make a judgement.

So, 50 Shades of Grey. Let's start with a question that I cannot even begin to answer: what on earth attracts women to it? I mean, it's rape, right? As far as I understand, she, Ana, says no to him, Grey, on several occasions, only for him to carry right on. So, women who have read it: what do you get out of it? Is that what you want your children reading?! You are, by extension, telling your daughters, it's perfectly acceptable, and perhaps even sexually arousing, for a man to carry on if you have said no. Rape is, contrary to popular belief, okay. And for your sons? If a girl says no, don't worry, what she really means is yes.

Because let's make no mistake. The moral of this story is not, 'she says no, he rapes her, there's a big law suit because she reports him and she lives traumatically ever after in years of therapy after being raped'. Rather, the moral is this: 'she says no, but what she really means is yes, and he knows that, so he carries on regardless, and eventually she falls in love with him'. Can anyone truly believe this message is acceptable? All this book does is systematically undermine all forms of sexual abuse in an unparalleled way. I can't even begin to imagine how hurtful this must be for all of the victims of sexual violence there are out there.

What's more, even the BDSM community want nothing to do with it. Many statements that representatives have made when asked make it very clear that the involvement of BDSM in any kind of sexual contact is based on mutual consent executed with care and intimacy, and, most importantly, with the inclusion of 'safe-words', in order to make sure all acts initiated can be stopped any time. There is a (not-so) fine line between BDSM and sexual abuse.

Whilst the content may be somewhat controversial, what is undeniable is the incomprehensible popularity of this franchise. E. L. James earned an estimated $95 in 2013, making her the highest-earning author of that year. Not everyone was a fan though. One of the articles written in the Telegraph about the book, back in February of this year prior to the film's release was entitled "Protect Britain's Women from this sick filth!". Although the sentiment is, on the surface, a well-natured one, I do have a problem with the word "protect". "Protect" implies that we, as the women of Britain, are unable to make our own choices as to whether to read this damaging garbage. "Protect" implies that it is inflicted upon us. It is not.

Not only the Telegraph has a problem though. Over the last few years, I have read countless articles about how the teenage population's use of pornography is disgusting. "Why do they do it?!" the newspapers cry, "what could possibly drive them to watching these abhorrent displays of sexual acts?!".
Let's just stop and think about that for a second shall we? Is there not some kind of phenomenon that actively integrated sexual abuse pornography onto our book shelves and our televisions? Is it not conceivable that through national and well-respected newspapers doing book review after book review and film review after film review of 50 Shades of Grey, a franchise ultimately built on rape porn (which by the way is illegal, E. L. James, in case you missed that memo), that we actually perpetuate this problem? This is a problem now endemic in our society. If you give it airtime, it will continue to spout offensive rubbish. Case in point? E. L. James, who has just released 50 Shades of Grey from Christian Grey's view point, a venture she is sure to make millions from.


So, to conclude, I have really only one message for readers of 50 Shades of Grey, regardless of gender, and it is this.

Congratulations. You successfully undermine victims of rape and all kinds of sexual abuse, and glorify it at the same time. I hope you're very happy with yourselves.

And to E. L. James: I don't really know what to say. You are clearly happy to earn your living from pornography and must be surprised that this particular piece has made it off the top shelf of the newsagents and acquired a bogus literary respectability. But do not deceive yourself; pornography it certainly is, and it contributes to the abasement of women just as surely as under-the-counter material in grubby shops.

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It is worth noting that in this article, I make very little mention of men who read 50 Shades of Grey, partly because I suspect they are few and far between. If you are a man and you have read the book (for whatever reason) do get in touch.

Lots of love,


Philly