Fifty Shades

[neveravictim]

I know this has been talked about alot but just wanted some advice. As a victim of rape the idea of submissive sex makes me feel very uncomfortable but all my friends are reading this. So do you think it is a book I should read too. Is t really about women's empowerment? Have nc btw. Thank you x

[ThatGhastlyWoman]

On no account should anyone read it. It's sh*t. Are your friends a bit dim? The only people I've encountered who could force themselves to read more than a few pages were.

[neveravictim]

That makes me feel a bit better. Was starting to feel that I was the only one who hadn't read it. Had heard it was shit too but I can be a bit of a sheep IYKWIM

[Selks]

I haven't read it because it sounds dire on many levels.

[BlackOutTheSun]

I have read it and no plans too. It sound like a load if shite

[AnyFucker]

no, don't

don't succumb to the hype

it's shite fiction

and shite for people who might be triggered

don't feel obliged to do anything, just because the masses do it

[BertieBotts]

I read the description on amazon, and it sounds like it's describing an abusive relationship to me - what I thought at the time was "Oh not another Twilight - it's attractive to many women in the same way that Twilight is; because the main character acts exactly as an abuser does in that reeling-in period."

Have since found out that the book started life as Twilight fanfiction, which would explain that connection, but ugh.

It's intoxicating because that's what an abusive relationship is like - literally addictive. (I may start referring people to 50 shades/twilight next time they start a smug thread saying "Well I don't see why anyone would ever get into an abusive relationship, it must be obvious!")

It is also likely to be massively triggering as AF says and not empowering at all. Steer well clear :)

[Cloudbase]

To be honest, as a rape survivor myself, I wouldn't read it. I have read similar stuff and found it incredibly triggering. Honestly, it's not worth it just to engage with the zeitgeist - you should do what's best for you, and take care of yourself. Besides, what excerpts I've read were incredibly badly written...

[itsthequietones]

It's a complete pile of sh*t. Badly written and definitely not about women being empowered.

Funny though, a friend posted a comment on facebook about it (she hasn't read it), I said not to bother and one of her friends replied that it was wonderful and she wanted to be Ana..... worrying really.

[catgirl1976]

I've heard it's shite but will no doubt read it myself anyway

Expect it is along the lines of Dan Brown in that its total dross that goes mega for a bit then a few years later no one will admit to liking it in the first place

[ElectricSoftParade]

It seems as though most women I know are reading it. I am not but have seen a witty little cartoon about it called One Shade of Grey, A Feminist Fantasy.

I can't post it as it is on my FB and I cannot work out how to not link to my page. If you want to see it PM me. It will make you smile.

[PlentyOfPubeGardens]

here it is

[ElectricSoftParade]

That's the one! Thank you Plenty.

[CardgamesFTW]

No of course you shouldn't read unnecessary, triggering crap - that's the opposite of empowerment isn't it. Check out this article instead: radicalhub.com/2012/04/02/on-50-shades-of-grey-and-the-erotization-of-male-domination/

[summerflower]

I'm highly uncomfortable with these books. Haven't read them so I am going on what I have heard, but plan to steer well clear. In your position, I definitely would avoid.

[Trills]

You might find this amusing

[itsthequietones]

Trills, that is so funny, you've made made my afternoon :)

[ChickensHaveNoLips]

I've read the trilogy. I've also read 'Twilight'. Why? Because they are so bad, so appallingly written, so unbelievably shit, that I felt compelled to read them in a sort of horrific rubber necking way. I spent the whole time thinking 'Really? This is sexy? A controlling fuckwit who gets violent when crossed? WTF?!'. The cartoon sums it up nicely. And it is scary that something which supports such a dysfunctional dynamic in a relationship has become so popular amongst women. Scary, I tells ya.

[Pooka]

Is bollocks and crap. Not about empowerment in the slightest. Written in similar gaspy, breahtless, shite way as twilight and is very unsexy and rather worrying that it is so popular.

[Pooka]

Love the blog!

[thechairmanmeow]

if your a victim of rape i wouldnt reccomend it.

i havent read it and consequently have no opinion as to whether it's good fiction or thrash.

wickety is right, this is a BDSM novel and BDSM is consentual, the veil of the dom being the abuser is just that, a veil, the real power in any relationship, D/s or otherwise lies in 'who needs who the most'

whether you like it or not, many women (and men) have a submissive fantasy or compulsion, the 'story of O' was written by a woman as was 'the claiming of sleeping beauty' both fairly hardcore SM books.

if the idea of submission seems riduculous to you then i wouldnt reccomend it. BDSM isnt for everyone, you either get it or you dont.

it's neither inpowering or abusive, it's a fantasy.

[yellowraincoat]

I think part of the problem with 50 Shades of Grey (apart from the fact it's appallingly badly written) is that you just can't imagine a book being so successful if it was about a male sub.

So while BDSM itself doesn't have to be an anti-feminist thing, the book to me is. Especially when it's being read by people who have no interest in the BDSM lifestyle and would find the idea of a male sub ridiculous. At that point, it does become a feminist issue for me.

[carernotasaint]

I read loads of the Black Lace books when i was younger and there was quite a few male subs in those. I first heard of them when i got a Black Lace book the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea free with a copy of New Woman. They didnt go mainstream like 50 Shades has though. (i have no interest in 50 Shades by the way.) sounds awful. Loads of my friends are reading it though and are raving about it on facebook. i will be giving it a huge swerve.

[Dprince]

My friend loved the book and I was horrified when she told me what it was about. Its sounds shit as well. I judged her for reading tbh.