| A.E. Albert: A Writer's Blog

Fifty Shades of

Grey Area?

by A.E. Albert

"Because I can"

-Christian Grey

This is not a post criticizing Fifty Shades of Grey. People either love or poop on the series. Myself? I'm on team poop. I attempted to form a unbiased opinion and read the all three books. Wasn't impressed.

Let's move on

When I finished the series, after I wondered why it was a global bestseller, a questioned formed in my mind. What is it that women really want?

We've all heard the usual answers; gender equality and fair wages. Fifty Shades of Grey seems to pose another one; sexual equality. A woman's right to exert her sexual desires without social reprimand.

But it that really the message of the book?

The first book is about Anastasia's personal struggle. It focus' on her internal debate; whether or not she can accept Christian's sexual tastes and the dominant role they will play in their sexual relationship. By the end, she chooses Christian and all that he is.

In the second book...ok, I have no idea what the point of the second book was. Once again, let's move on.

The third and final installment of the series is about Christian and why he is the way he is. In the end, Anastasia truly accepts her role and agrees to be the whipping post her man needs her to be.

Here lies my problem

Recently the media has been inundated with anti-violence campaigns. Even the NFL has jumped on the bandwagon. Personally, I think this is great and women everywhere applaud our own social awareness.

But is Fifty Shades a step forward or backward in the arena of social consciousness?

Anastasia comes to understand why Christian has to urges he does. She justifies his actions. I thought the term to describe this was battered women syndrome?

I know many women would argue that Anastasia has the right to make her own choices, good or bad. But she didn't choose this.

He did.

She did it all for a man.

Personal had nothing to do with it.

Is the price we pay for true love we do what the man wants. Yes, we all make compromises. Does this include compromising who we are?

So what do women really want? Gender equality or dominance cloaked in the guise of a really hot guy?

I think we need to pick a side. We need to define our role in the world. Is is it Fifty Shades of Grey? Or Fifty Shades of Grey Area?

Do you think the series blurs the lines of gender equality? Let me know.

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