The Passion isn't Degrading, But the Rape Scenes Are
Mar 25 '00 (Updated Mar 27 '00)
I state the following for anyone that may have come upon this editorial through my profile page, or some other way, and not aware of the topic.
This is not a book review. The topic is Bodice Rippers, and the question we are being asked to answer is as follows:
"Are bodice rippers -- romance novels that feature scenes of sexual passion and violent action -- degrading to women?"
My answer to this question is that sexual passion is not degrading, but the violence, when it is without consent, is very degrading to women.
I have to admit, I read quite a few romance novels. I read them because I find them amusing. A lot of times the story lines are just so rediculous and hard to believe, I can't help but laugh.
However, one thing that I don't find funny is when they have rape scenes. It just doesn't seem realistic to me that a woman would be raped by a man, whether it is once or repeatedly, and then end up falling in love with him.
I'm sorry, but if a man raped me, even once, I'd hate him for the rest of my life. If it was within my powers to get revenge on him, I would, and I would sincerely hope that the revenge would cause him as much pain and suffering as his rape caused me.
I know that doesn't seem to be a very Buddhist attitude, and a part of me regrets that reaction, but I think it is a very realistic attitude.
I have nothing against the scenes of passion these books have. The rip-their-clothes-off-because-they-want-each-other-so-bad passion is something that most women don't experience in real life. It's kind of sad when you think about it. I think most woman would like to experience that sort of passion in their life.
But I don't think there is a woman out there that really wants to be violated by a man, taken against her will, humiliated and demeaned. The fact that these books are mostly written by women makes it worse to me.
Can the women that write these books honestly tell me that if they were raped they could later love their rapist?! I don't think they honestly could.
It doesn't matter who your rapist is, whether a stranger, a "friend" or even a boyfriend or spouse. Even if you had love for that person before, that rape will change your relationship. It kills your trust for that person.
So, while I don't find the scenes of passion degrading, I do find the scenes of rape deeply degrading and disturbing. And I think that the writers of those novels need to rethink putting those scenes in their novels, or at least be realistic and don't have the heroine falling in love with her rapist.
When I was a little girl, I was sexually molested. I realize that that is quite different from what happens in a lot of these novels. But there are some similarities. I did not consent to what happened. It was done against my will. I hated the man that molested me and when he died of a brain tumor, I have to admit that I felt a grim sort of satisfaction. I felt he'd been made to pay for his sick actions and his disgusting thoughts. (He had told me years later, after the incident, that he had enjoyed the experience and wished he could repeat it and that he dreamed about me.)
So, when I read these books with these scenes of sexual violence where the woman (or in some rare cases, the man) is unwilling and used violently, or even in some cases, not so violently, but still against his or her will, it brings back unpleasant memories to me. Even though I've received counseling about my experiences and have been able to put it behind me for the most part, books like this revive it and I honestly think that any woman who's been sexually abused in any manner will find these books disturbing for the same reason. I think these scenes cause women who've experienced rape a lot of pain.
I think it is irresponsable for the authors of these books to put these rape scenes into these books and have the heroine fall in love with her rapist or abuser. It makes it then seem like a woman who is abused should condone the behavior.
And while there are many women out there that know enough to ignore this underlying message, there are some women who are not strong in this way. These women need a strong example, someone to show them that there is never a good reason to stay with an abusive man. They need books that give them romance, but at the same time show good sense as well. Loving a rapist is not good sense.
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Epinions.com ID:
LadyChristine
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Member: Christine Jenkins
Location: Wheaton MD
Reviews written: 146
Trusted by: 58 members
About Me:
I am a 29 year old Japanese and Caucasian women with four children, all boys.
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