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journalofwomen shealth volume 25 number 2 2016 maryannliebert inc doi 10 1089 jwh 2015 5318 young women s perceptions of the relationship in fifty shades of grey 1 2 1 ...

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               JOURNALOFWOMEN’SHEALTH
               Volume 25, Number 2, 2016
               ªMaryAnnLiebert, Inc.
               DOI: 10.1089/jwh.2015.5318
                           Young Women’s Perceptions of the Relationship
                                                    in Fifty Shades of Grey
                                                           1,2                         1,2                          1,2
                              Amy E. Bonomi, PhD, MPH,        Emily M. Nichols, MSW,       Christin L. Carotta, PhD,
                                                                       1                       3
                                                    Yuya Kiuchi, PhD, and Samantha Perry
               Abstract
               Objective: Millions of women are interacting with Fifty Shades of Grey—a best-selling novel and film. Yet, to
               date, no social science study has been undertaken to examine women’s perceptions of the Fifty Shades rela-
               tionship narrative in its film adaptation—what they deem appealing, what they deem unappealing, and what
               they would welcome or resist in their own relationship. In the present study, we used focus groups to examine
               women’s perceptions of the relationship patterns in the Fifty Shades of Grey film.
               Methods: Focus groups were conducted with 35 young adult women (randomly sampled from the registrar’s
               office of a large Midwestern university) immediately after watching the Fifty Shades film with the study team at
               a local theater within two days of the film’s release. Seven semistructured questions concentrating on reactions
               to the relationship patterns between Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele depicted in the Fifty Shades film were
               asked, including general reactions, appealing and unappealing characteristics, romantic and dangerous ele-
               ments, and aspects that participants would tolerate (or not tolerate) in their own relationships.
               Results: While participants assessed parts of the relationship between Christian and Anastasia as exciting and
               romantic, they consistently indicated an unappealing lack of health in the relationship. Participants expressed
               grave concerns over Christian’s stalking, controlling, manipulative, and emotionally abusive behavior, anger in
               sexual interactions, and neglect of Anastasia’s needs. At the same time, they sympathized with and rationalized
               Christian’s behaviors as a function of his personality, needs, and abilities. A small contingent implicated
               Anastasia in the unhealthy relationship process, whereas a broader majority of participants highlighted the
               challenges with trying to ‘‘speak up’’ in an unhealthy relationship like Christian and Anastasia’s. When asked
               where participants would draw the line in their own relationship, participants indicated they would welcome the
               adventure and gifts, but would not tolerate being controlled and stalked, having their needs neglected, and
               having a partner who expressed anger in sexual interactions.
               Conclusions: Our findings point to the value of using popular culture, including the Fifty Shades narrative, to
               actively engage young women in productive conversation about characteristics of relationship health and un-
               health. Similar approaches could be used to engage young women in safe, relatable conversations about healthy
               andunhealthyrelationships,includingthewarningsignsofabuse.Asabroaderimpact,ourstudycontributestoan
               understanding of how young women interact with and make sense of relationships depicted in popular culture.
               Introduction                                                 they deem unappealing, and what they would welcome or
               Significance                                                  resist in their own relationship. In the present study, we ex-
                                                                            amined, through focus groups, young women’s perceptions
                    s millions of women are interacting with Fifty Shades   of the relationship patterns in the Fifty Shades of Grey film.
               A 1                                2         3
                    of Grey —a best-selling novel and film —no social        Our study concentrated on women between the ages of 18
               science study to date has been undertaken to examine         and 24 years because this developmental period, over all
               women’s perceptions of the Fifty Shades relationship narra-  other developmental periods, is intensely focused on explo-
               tive in its film adaptation—what they deem appealing, what    rations of intimate relationships, love, sexuality, and sexual
                 1Human Development and Family Studies, 2Research Consortium on Gender-Based Violence, and 3College of Social Science Scholars
               Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan.
                                                                        139
                  140                                                                                                                   BONOMIETAL.
                  expression.4,5 It is also a period when women are at high risk        waxedvaginalareas)andforsexualinteractions(e.g.,double
                  for experiencing violence in their intimate relationships.6–8         anal penetration).21
                  Across the lifespan, between 24% and 44% of women will                   Violence against women in other types of popular culture,
                  experience intimate partner violence,6,7 with significant ad-          such as music videos, has also raised concern. For example,
                  verse health outcomes.8–17 Women with a history of intimate           EminemandRihanna’s music video, Love the Way You Lie,
                  partner violence in the past 12 months,15 for example, have           romanticizes physical, sexual, and emotional threats, in-
                  elevated risk of depression (3.26-fold increase), anxiety             cluding an intent to kill within a couple’s relationship (i.e.,
                  (2.73-fold increase), substance abuse (5.89-fold increase),           ‘‘If she ever tries to fucking leave again I’m a tie her to the
                  sexually transmitted disease (3.15-fold increase), urinary            bed and set this house on fire.’’). In relation to lyrics like
                  tract infections (1.79-fold increase), vaginitis (1.56-fold in-       these, the American Academy of Pediatrics36 issued a cau-
                  crease), chest pain (1.53-fold increase), chronic pain (e.g.,         tionary policy statement about the role that depictions of
                  cervical and back pain, headaches), trauma-related joint              violence, problematic sexual messages, sexual stereotypes,
                  disorders (1.59-fold increase), and various types of injury           and substance abuse play in shaping the attitudes and be-
                  (e.g., lacerations, contusions, sprains and strains).                 haviors of young people.
                     Our study is highly relevant to the development of young
                  women,includingthepotentialforhelpingtoestablishahealthy              Fifty Shades of Grey narrative
                  relationship trajectory across the lifespan, particularly given the
                  known associations between interacting with popular culture              What are the basic tenets of the Fifty Shades of Grey nar-
                  (including Fifty Shades) that depicts violence against women          rative? In the Fifty Shades of Grey film, handsome, wealthy,
                                                        18–24
                  and/or highly gendered stereotypes          and violence victimi-     andsexuallyexperiencedChristianGrey(JamieDornan)and
                  zation and related health risks. While well-validated, theory-        plain-looking, sexually inexperienced college student Ana-
                  based relationship violence prevention programs such as Safe          stasia Steele (Dakota Johnson) become romantically and
                         25               26                                27
                  Dates,   the Fourth-R,     and Coaching Boys into Men        target   sexuallyinvolved.TheFiftyShadesnarrativeblursdesireand
                                                                                                 37
                  contributing factors to violence in relationships across all levels   danger,    weaving in edgy sexual elements into the romantic
                                        28
                  ofthesocialecology      (e.g., individual, peer, family, and school   relationship; namely, Christian uses physical restraints (e.g.,
                  environment), a prime emphasis is placed on social norming—           handcuffs, neckties), floggers, riding crops, feather ticklers,
                  including combatting messages at the broader societal level           verbal intimidation, and spanking in an attempt to sexually
                  (e.g., media) that condone violence against women. These              engage and subdue Anastasia.
                  programs acknowledge that the use of popular culture is an               Within the Fifty Shades relationship, consistent with tra-
                                                                      29                                           31,38,39
                  important facilitator for opening conversations        about rela-    ditional gender scripts,           Christian’s sexual needs are
                                                                      30
                  tionships, sexuality, and warning signs of abuse.                     prioritized over Anastasia’s desire for an emotional connec-
                     Two recent cross-sectional studies showed associations             tion. For example, in one scene, Anastasia returns from a
                  between interacting with the Fifty Shades novels and vio-             long-distance trip and indicates a desire to connect emo-
                  lence victimization, binge drinking, disordered eating, hav-          tionally with Christian; appearing angry by events happening
                  ingahighnumberofsexualpartners,23andtraditionalgender                 in his office, Christian ignores Anastasia’s request and in-
                  role identification24 (the idea that men are strong, powerful,         stead commands her to get ready for sex. While Anastasia is
                                                                          31
                  andincontrolandwomenareweakandsubservient ).While                     upset by Christian’s dismissive request, she complies and is
                  the studies could not demonstrate temporality and did not             depictedasarousedduringtheensuingsexualinteractions.In
                  account for all factors (e.g., family environment, interactions       another sexually charged scene, after Christian spanks Ana-
                  with all types of popular culture) that might be associated           stasia for rolling her eyes at him, Christian abruptly an-
                  with health risks and traditional gender role alignment, the          nounces that he needs to leave, which disturbs Anastasia;
                  study findings nevertheless corroborate prior investigations           instead of pressing Christian to stay, Anastasia cries later on
                  noting associations between interacting with popular culture          the telephone with her mother.
                  and related media depicting violence against women and                   Bonomi’s prior in-depth analysis of the Fifty Shades nar-
                                                21,22,32–34                                     40                            2
                  attitude and behavior risks.                                          rative,    as depicted in the book, revealed Christian’s sys-
                     Forexample,Malamuth’sseminalstudyshowedthatmale                    tematic use of abuse (e.g., stalking, intimidation, controlling
                  undergraduate students randomized to watch violent sexual             behavior, social isolation) to dominate Anastasia, consistent
                                                                                                                                                       40,41
                  films had increased acceptance of violence against women,              with national definitions of intimate partner violence.
                  with a nonsignificant opposite trend for female viewers.34             The Fifty Shades film3 adaptation tones down aspects of the
                  More recent analyses have confirmed associations between               abuse in the books, but the abuse is nonetheless present. For
                  men’s viewing of violent pornography and attitudes sup-               example, shortly after being spanked and calling her mother
                  porting violence against women.32,33 Other studies have               crying,AnastasiaplansavisittoseehermotherinGeorgia.In
                  shownarangeofpotentialrisksforwomenwhointeractwith                    connection, Christian becomes angry and follows Anastasia
                  sexualizing magazines(valuingappearanceovercompetence                 fromSeattletoGeorgia,whichalarmsAnastasiaanddisrupts
                  and intensive body surveillance)18 and thin-ideal images              hervisitwithhermother.Thefilmamplifiestheoriginalbook
                  (depressed feelings, stress, guilt, shame).35 Gail Dines, au-         scene by depicting Anastasia as sending Christian a longing
                  thor of Pornland: How Porn Has Hijacked our Sexuality,                text message from Georgia (‘‘I miss you’’), prompting his
                  brings these ideas together by calling attention to increas-          visit. In any case, following a romantic interest nearly 3,000
                  ingly problematic messaging about women, including                    miles and manipulating her away from family time fits pat-
                  hypersexualized images and violence, in Internet-based                terns of stalking and domestic violence.41
                  pornography and visual media more generally—including                    Other examples of Christian’s controlling, manipulative
                  ensuing expectations for women’s physical appearance (e.g.,           behavior depicted in the film involve telling Anastasia that
                 RELATIONSHIP IN FIFTY SHADES                                                                                                       141
                 she is not allowed to talk with anyone about their relation-         Shadesbooks,andofthese,lessthanhalffinishedreadingthe
                 ship, harassingAnastasiaaboutwhetheranyofthemeninher                 first book.
                 life are her ‘‘boyfriend,’’ commanding her to eat, and buying           Twostudy sessions (n=20 participants and n=15 partic-
                 her expensive gifts that cause her to feel uncomfortable and         ipants) were scheduled within 2 days after the film’s release
                 induce her dependency.                                               to minimize the impact that publicity about the film could
                    In spite of the abuse depictions in Fifty Shades, millions of     have on participants’ perceptions. Focus groups were con-
                 womenaredrawntothenarrative.1Inanefforttounderstand                  ducted immediately after watching the Fifty Shades film.
                 aspectsoftheFiftyShadesrelationshipthatareappealingand               Focus group methodology is commonly used in health be-
                 unappealing to women, our study involved talking with 35             havior and health education studies, where participants are
                 young adult women (ages 18 to 24 years) after watching the           asked to focus on a topic and presented as a set of questions,
                 Fifty Shades of Grey film with the study team. Our study              suchasinresponsetoafilm;itisausefulmethodologywhen
                 contributes to an understanding of how women interact with           the research purpose is to elicit people’s understandings,
                 and make sense of relationships depicted in popular culture.         opinions and views within a social context.44 Crucial to the
                                                                                      success of focus groups are standard procedures, including
                 Methods                                                              establishing clear criteria for subject eligibility (described
                    Study procedures were approved by the university’s In-            above),identifyingcleardiscussionquestions,settingground
                 stitutional Review Board. A total of 35 young adult women            rules for respectful discussions, and establishing competent
                                                                                      notetakers.44
                 (eligibility: ages 18 to 24 years and enrolled at the university)       To guide the focus groups, seven semistructured ques-
                 wererecruitedtowatchtheFiftyShadesofGreyfilmwiththe                   tions concentrating on reactions to the relationship pat-
                 study team and to participate in focus group discussions42
                 about their perceptions of the Fifty Shades relationship im-         terns between Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele depicted
                 mediately following the film. Subjects received $60 cash for          in the Fifty Shades film were asked, including questions
                 study participation. Subjects were recruited through random          addressing participants’ general reactions, characteristics
                 sampling by the university’s registrar’s office; a total of 260       of the relationship that were appealing (and unappealing),
                 subjects meeting the eligibility criteria were sent a recruit-       elements that were romantic and dangerous, elements that
                 ment email and study information sheet, with the enrollment          participants would tolerate (or not tolerate) in their own
                 periodheldopenfor24hours.Withinthe24-hourenrollment                  relationships, and how participants would describe the re-
                 period, of the 260 randomly sampled subjects, 41 signed up           lationship to a friend. The skilled discussion facilitator
                 to participate, with 35 subjects ultimately participating in         (AEB) actively and consistently probed all participants to
                 the study—sufficient for thematic saturation.43 Of those              express opinions to ensure that less vocal individuals con-
                 whosignedupbutdidnotparticipate,twowereunabledueto                   tributed. Other procedures used by the facilitator to en-
                 extreme cold weather (temperatures hovered around zero               courage participation included establishing group discussion
                 degrees on the days of the study), two were ill, and two did         norms at the beginning and reminding the group of the
                 not provide reasons.                                                 norms throughout the process, conducting the groups in a
                    Theaverage age of participants was 21 years (range, 19 to         comfortable location, and reinforcing the confidential nature
                 24 years), 32.2% identified as racial/ethnic minority, and            of the discussions.
                 most were sophomores, juniors and seniors (Table 1). Our                Twodatacapture approaches were used, including using
                 samplewasmoreracially/ethnicallydiverse(32.2%)thanour                notetakers and audiotaping the focus groups. Four study
                 university’s students as a whole (17.3%). Forty-two percent          staff attended the focus groups, including the facilitator
                 of the sample had interacted in some fashion with the Fifty          (AEB)andthreerecorders (EMN,CLC,SP),whosatatthe
                                                                                      sides of the room and actively recorded participant dia-
                                                                                      logue in their computers. In addition, the focus group dis-
                                                                                      cussionswereaudio-recorded(YK)andtranscribed(EMN).
                           Table 1. Participant Characteristics                       The study team comprised three gender-based violence
                                                                             a        researchers trained in qualitative methods (AEB, EMN,
                                                                      N=34            CLC); one popular culture scholar (YK); and one under-
                 Age (years), mean                               21 years (range,     graduate social science student (SP).
                                                                    19–24 years)         Thematic analysis was used to identify themes, including
                                                                                      areas of disagreement among participants.45 The entire study
                 Race/ethnicity, n (%)
                    White                                           23 (67.6%)        team met for three initial in-depth discussions of the notes
                    Black/African American                           8 (23.5%)        from the notetakers; first, immediately following each focus
                    Hispanic                                         1 (2.9%)         group (two meetings) and then for a four-hour meeting once
                    Asian                                            1 (2.9%)         the transcripts were assembled. After these initial meetings,
                    Unknown                                          1 (2.9%)         AEB,EMNandCLCindependentlyanditeratively read and
                 Year in college, n (%)                                               highlighted themes in the organized notes and transcriptions,
                    Freshman                                         6 (17.6%)        with several in-person meetings following and electronic
                    Sophomore                                        9 (26.4%)        communication used to clarify themes; the in-person meet-
                    Junior                                           7 (20.5%)        ings involved the entire study team (AEB, EMN, CLC, YK
                    Senior                                          11 (32.3%)        andSP).Therewasnearlyperfectconsistencyintheidentified
                    Graduate (master’s)                              1 (2.9%)         themesacrossAEB,EMNandCLC.Asanadditionalvalidity
                   a                                                                       46
                    TheUniversity Registrar could not access information for one of   step,   the findings were presented at a university-wide event
                 the 35 participants.                                                 involving approximately 200 faculty and students from
                   142                                                                                                                             BONOMIETAL.
                   multiple disciplines, including three students who partici-                    Other appealing elements included Christian’s focus on
                   pated in the focus groups.                                                  Anastasia, including his physical attraction to her even
                                                                                               though she is not ‘‘cookie cutter hot,’’ that he is willing to
                                                                                               negotiate becausehedesireshersomuch(‘‘Hewaswillingto
                   Results                                                                     negotiate with her and go on a date night with her because he
                   Overview                                                                    desired her so much’’), and that he seems to genuinely care
                                                                                               for Anastasia’s well-being:
                      While participants assessed parts of the relationship be-                       ‘‘He cared about her physical well-being.wanted her to
                   tweenChristian and Anastasia as exciting and romantic, they                     besafe,pulledoutacondom,madesureshewasn’tsleepingin
                   consistently indicated an unappealing lack of health in the                     her vomit clothes, although it was in a weird way, he cared.’’
                   relationship as the overarching narrative. Participants iden-                      ‘‘I noticed that he would look at her when she was sleeping,
                   tified Christian’s controlling, manipulative, and abusive be-                    like in care, the body language, he was desiring her, but not
                   havior and angry emotions as key contributors to the lack of                    sexually, he cared for her.’’
                   relationship health, including stalking Anastasia, selling her                 Asmall contingent of participants liked that Christian is
                   car without her permission, taking her to a hotel while she                 direct about what he wants sexually (a relatable pattern in
                   was intoxicated and unconscious even though they had little                 their own lives—‘‘Guys these days are like ‘let’s get right to
                   relationship together, buying her expensive gifts to control                the point.’ If a guy thinks you want sex, they will ask for it.’’
                   and manipulate her, and expressing anger in their sexual in-                Whereas participants consistently across focus groups liked
                   teractions. At the same time, participants were sympathetic                 that Christian tries to make Anastasia feel special (e.g., by
                   and rationalized Christian’s behaviors. Further, while par-                 calling her his ‘‘girlfriend’’; by his willingness to be seen in
                   ticipants acknowledged the adverse impact of Christian’s                    publicwithher;bygivinghergiftssuchasacomputer;andby
                   behaviors on Anastasia, a small contingent of participants                  inviting Anastasia to be in a public photograph with him).
                   implicated Anastasia in the unhealthy relationship process,                    Finally, appealing elements of Anastasia’s character in-
                   while others resisted this narrative by acknowledging the                   cluded her ability to wield some power in the relationship,
                   challenges of ‘‘speaking up’’ in a relationship like Christian              including when she teases Christian by not promptly an-
                   andAnastasia’s. When asked where participants would draw                    swering his text messages, as well as her relatable physical
                   thelineintheirownrelationship,participantssaidtheywould                     qualities (‘‘Anastasia is realistic because she is relatable;
                   welcomethegifts,adventureandsexualexploration,butthey                       she is natural and [her] roommate is supposed to be the
                   generated a more robust narrative about what they would not                 bombshell’’).
                   tolerate including being controlled and stalked, having their
                   needs disrespected, and having a partner who expressed an-
                   ger in sexual interactions. Finally, when asked how they                    Relationship lack of appeal
                   would describe the relationship to a friend, participants re-                  While participants assessed parts of the relationship be-
                   iterated elements of the couple’s lack of relationship health.              tweenChristian and Anastasia as appealing, they generated a
                   The themes are expanded upon below.                                         consistent, robust narrative about unappealing elements that
                                                                                               theydeemedunhealthy,dangerous,andharmfultoAnastasia,
                   Relationship appeal                                                         to Christian, and to the relationship more generally. The lack
                      When asked what aspects of the relationship were ap-                     of relationship appeal sifted out into three categories: (1)
                   pealing and romantic, participants identified the general                    Christian’s control/manipulation, stalking, abuse, anger and
                   chemistry that exists between Christian and Anastasia (e.g.,                neglect of Anastasia’s needs; (2) Christian’s personality and
                   ‘‘I love unexpected chemistry, how they just kind of con-                   needs, including his dark past (sexual abuse that he suffered),
                   nected, it was cute, how he popped up at the hardware store                 which constrained his ability to be fully connected to Ana-
                   [where she works], I thought that was.actually cute, that                   stasia; and (3) Anastasia’s inability to negotiate her needs in
                   was how me and my boyfriend met’’); further evidenced by                    the relationship.
                   their eye contact, their exchange of endearing phrases (e.g.,
                   ‘‘Laters, baby’’), their passion (‘‘passionate even if they were               1. Christian’s control, stalking, abuse, and anger.            Parti-
                   just kissing’’), and their sexual tension and erotic, boundary-             cipants were consistently troubled by Christian’s attempts
                   pushing sexual activities:                                                  to control, manipulate, emotionally abuse, and stalk Ana-
                                                                                               stasia; Christian’s anger toward Anastasia (particularly in
                          ‘‘It was hot, hot, hot, hot, very hot, really steaming, really       their sexual interactions); and his neglect of Anastasia’s
                       about pushing the boundaries, something going on for both,              needs. Not unlike the challenge of distinguishing between
                       trying to get out of comfort zone, curious to where relation-           what is exciting and romantic versus problematic in real-
                       shipswillgo,shewantsmore,don’tknowwherethatwillgo.’’                    world relationships,47 the same elements that were noted as
                      Participants were excited by romantic activities that                    appealing about the relationship were simultaneously de-
                   characterize the relationship, such as the dancing and heli-                scribed as highly unappealing and problematic. For example,
                   copter and glider rides (e.g., ‘‘the dancing, it is just the lit-           while participants were excited by the expensive gifts
                   tle things, and God, flying’’), and participants connected to                Christian gives Anastasia—a finding that is consistent with
                                                                                                                                            48
                   the couple’s realistic, recognizable relationship issues, par-              females’ attraction to men with status —they also described
                   ticularly as they might play out in their own lives (e.g.,                  the gifts as unappealing because they are used to control
                   ‘‘unhealthy relationship but realistic.you get infatu-                      and manipulate Anastasia, including the perception that
                   ated and change yourself because you want to please them                    Christian gives more extreme gifts as his desire to control her
                   [boyfriend]’’).                                                             increases:
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...Journalofwomen shealth volume number maryannliebert inc doi jwh young women s perceptions of the relationship in fifty shades grey amy e bonomi phd mph emily m nichols msw christin l carotta yuya kiuchi and samantha perry abstract objective millions are interacting with a best selling novel lm yet to date no social science study has been undertaken examine rela tionship narrative its adaptation what they deem appealing unappealing would welcome or resist their own present we used focus groups patterns methods were conducted adult randomly sampled from registrar ofce large midwestern university immediately after watching team at local theater within two days release seven semistructured questions concentrating on reactions between christian anastasia steele depicted asked including general characteristics romantic dangerous ele ments aspects that participants tolerate not relationships results while assessed parts as exciting consistently indicated an lack health expressed grave concern...

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