Fifty Shades of Grey is the story of an older man preying on the innocence and vulnerability of a younger woman, using her as his victim to fulfill his fantasy of sexual domination, abuse and perversion. It begins with him luring her with gifts to having her sign a contract giving him complete power to do his bidding with her in his 'red room of pain'. Basically it's pornography in written form, just as addicting as the visual form, designed to romanticize the sexual violence and victimization of women.
The subject matter of Fifty Shades of Grey is the very thing I've spent the last 8 years helping rescue and heal women from. It alarms and saddens me that so many women are flocking to a book that glamorizes and romanticizes the predatory sexual, emotional and physical abuse and domination of women when in reality there's nothing glamorous or sexy about it. Instead what I see and hear from women is the broken lives filled with pain and devastation this reaps for decades following. For many, its just an interesting story, but in the world I live and minister in, it is someone's story...one they wish wasn't real.
Not only is this sexually perverse material addicting for both men and women, but by it's nature pornography desensitizes all of us to the sexual violence against women and children. Studies are showing that men who watch hard core pornography have higher rates of sexual abuse of children, rape and violence against women, and are more likely to buy or sell girls in the sex industry. With 1/3 girls and 1/6 boys sexually abused by age 18, over 50% of a woman's first sexual experience being forced or unwanted, and sex-trafficking of women and children at pandemic proportions, pornography in my opinion is the single greatest cause and must bear the blame.
In my opinion the frenzy over this subject matter generated mainly by women, has taken our sexual identity and integrity as strong, beautiful, independent and equal women a step backward rather than forward. For me the saddest thing about this book is that it's women who've made it a best seller. Why would we as women want to glorify and glamorize the very thing we've spent decades trying to free ourselves from? That's what I don't understand.
Barbara Wilson
www.barbarawilson.org
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thank you for the report Barb. and thank you for your hard work. The Lord knows and He is proud of you and all who work for HIM!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is something I too am very passionate about. Thank you so much for what you do and the consciousness and healing you facilitate through your work and just by your presence on this earth. I love you!
ReplyDeleteI am not aware of so many ways the enemy works. Thanks for this insight and your work. What can we do to create awareness in our children as they grow to adulthood and as we do pre-marriage counseling so we can open the eyes of the precious, but sometimes way too niave people of God? It is sad, but the word "seduced" comes to mind. We are often seduced on to paths which are held out as good and positive, only to find the trap close on us. Thanks for your work.
ReplyDeleteDear Pastor John, thankyou so much for your question and concern. There is much deception with regards to how casual sex is hurting our generation, and especially our young people. I work with men and women who spend sometimes decades trying to recover from sexual wounding in their pasts. My book The Invisible Bond addresses this deception, and prepares young people on how to prevent this wounding, and yet offers healing to those who've already been deceived. For those in pre-marital counseling, I usually suggest my Kiss Me Again book which offers healing from things that either may be bringing into their marriage. I hope this helps. You can find out more on my website, www.barbarawilson.org.
DeleteBlessings, Barb