Just because women like kinky books doesn't mean you can rape them

I've been feeling really uncomfortable with all the recent posts suggesting Fifty Shades of Grey promotes sexual violence against women. What particularly unnerves me about these posts is the tacit implication that since the books were written by and are primarily read by women, women are somehow responsible for sexual violence. It's a "she had it coming because she read that book" kind of an argument.

I have waded through a fair bit of all three Shades of Grey books and I'm not a fan. My objections to them are founded on the violence being perpetrated against characterization and the English language, not the subject matter. That the books are almost universally considered badly written and sit outside the artistic establishment is probably what makes them an easy target for moral outrage. There are plenty of books and movies about dominance and seduction: Secretary (2002), Quill (2000) and the Piano (1993) are just three works on this theme that played to critical acclaim.

Power and sex go together like cheese and wine. Stories of innocent girls redeeming arrogant, un-likeable, impossibly rich, handsome men are the bread and butter of the romantic fiction tradition and can be traced back at least as far as Eliza Bennet and Mr Darcy. They reflect a real life fascination many women (and arguably men do this too) have with unsuitable partners. As much as you know you should be giving your body to nerdy looking guys who volunteer on disabled youth camps you inevitably seem to end up in bed with the ultra-good-looking marketing executive who talks about nothing but his car and gym workouts.

Love and attraction have almost zero connection to rational logic. Sex has even less.
The problem I have with the moral critics of Shades of Grey is that they seem to want to blame our fantasies, failings and indiscretions for sexual violence. What is at play with these posts is a good old fashioned call for moral censorship of artistic freedoms based on that old chestnut "the public good". Sexual violence isn't the fault of sick, twisted individuals it's the fault of the naughty books and movies that objectify women. Next it'll be the fault of all that provocative clothing and makeup. Then just walking down the street by yourself at night without a male relative will become justification for rape.

That's why, much as I might not like Fify Shades of Grey, I do like that I live in a country where women have the freedom to write and read it.