Women who've read E.L. James' kinky series "Fifty Shades" are more likely to indulge in unhealthy behavior, a new study finds.
Along with receiving many accolades, E.L. James' kinky series "Fifty Shades" has also attracted a lot of heat and criticism. A recent study by researchers from Michigan University found that women who've read the books are likely to indulge in unhealthy behavior.
The study highlighted that such women are more likely to exhibit signs of eating disorders and allow themselves to have a verbally-abusive partner.
"If women experienced adverse health behaviors such as disordered eating first, reading 'Fifty Shades' might reaffirm those experiences and potentially aggravate related trauma," lead author Amy Bonomi, said in a press statement. "Likewise, if they read 'Fifty Shades' before experiencing the health behaviors seen in our study, it's possible the books influenced the onset of these behaviors."
This is the first study that looks into the link between increased risky sexual behavior and reading popular fiction. Researchers examined over 650 women aged between 18 and 24 years - the prime time for women to explore greater sexual intimacy in relationships.
The researchers found that "Fifty Shades" women readers were 25 percent more likely to have a partner who yelled or swore at them compared to women who didn't read the novel. They were also 34 percent more likely to have a partner who demonstrated stalking tendencies, and more than 75 percent more likely to have used diet aids or a fasting method for more than 24 hours.
Additionally, those who read all three books in the series were 65 percent more likely than non-readers to binge drink, and 63 percent more likely to have five or more intercourse partners during their lifetime.
The study authors clarified that their findings did, in no way, imply that the book should be banned or women shouldn't read it. It only aims at highlighting the fact that readers should be more aware of the influence reading such books has on their health and relationships.
Anastasia Steele, the female protagonist in the book, is portrayed as a woman who feels a constant threat and loss of self-identity. In the story, she changes her personality to ensure her relationship continues to work and ends up becoming disempowered and entrapped in the relationship as her behavior becomes mechanized in response to Christian's abusive patterns.
The book sold 70 million copies worldwide and was responsible for creating a dramatic rise in the sales of sex toys.
A year ago, Bonomi conducted a similar study which highlighted that this best-selling novel propagated violence against women.
"This book is perpetuating dangerous abuse standards and yet it's being cast as this romantic, erotic book for women," said Bonomi, at that time. "The erotic content could have been accomplished without the theme of abuse."
According to a recent WHO report, one in every three women globally is subjected to either physical or sexual violence. The study also found that 42 percent of women that were physically or sexually abused by partners had suffered from injuries. Also, women who suffered non-partner violent attacks were 2.6 times more likely to go into depression and experience anxiety when compared to women who were not subjected to any form of violence.
This is not the first time James' book has been accused of encouraging violence against women. Last year, the book faced similar criticism and the author addressed the issue in an interview with Katie Couric. "People who think that are sort of demonizing women who actually enjoy these kinds of relationships," James said. "What people get up to behind closed doors, providing it is safe, sane, consensual and legal, is completely up to them and it's not for you, I or anybody to judge."
Many readers too were quick to defend the author and the novel calling it "engrossing" and "more like a role-play" rather than "real violence."
However, Bonomi's views were supported by Cris Sullivan, director of the Research Consortium on Gender-Based Violence at MSU. According to Sullivan, she read the book to see what all the fuss was about and was thoroughly "dismayed."
"This issue is bigger than the book," said Sullivan in a Detroit Free Press report. "It shows that we have a very long way to go (in recognizing sexual violence). I hope people use this study as an opportunity to further understand and think about this book, especially with a movie coming."
The London Fire Brigade voiced a similar complaint against the erotic novel last month, blaming the book for an increase in the number of handcuff incidents reported in the city.
"I don't know whether it's the Fifty Shades effect, but the number of incidents involving items like handcuffs seems to have gone up. I'm sure most people will be fifty shades of red by the time our crews arrive to free them," said third officer Dave Brown.
The current study was published online in the Journal of Women's Health.
