The #MeToo movement has brought much-needed attention to a pervasive problem — sexual harassment and abuse. Recent photos of Colbie Holderness’ black eye, the resignation of two White House officials accused of abuse and a string of stories of women dying at the hands of their partners have brought attention to the scourge of domestic violence.
And yet, the Valentine’s Day weekend box office hit was a story glorifying sexual violence, misogyny and abuse.
Houston, we have a problem. Love is not “Fifty Shades of Grey.”
Instead, the book series and the trilogy of films normalize rape culture and romanticize emotional, physical and sexual abuse. Stalking, beating, cutting the victim off from contact with friends and family, obsession, control and manipulation are not romantic. They are abusive.
Katherine Blakeman, director of communications at the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, said: “It is incredibly socially irresponsible to uphold ‘Fifty Shades’ as mainstream entertainment, while at the same time we express our outrage at Harvey Weinstein and his ilk, and while we work to eradicate sexual harassment, sexual assault and the rape myth mentality from our culture.”
