Researchers from several American universities are interested in the influence of reading the bestselling erotic novel ‘Fifty Shade of Gray‘(Fifty Shades of Gray in English, written by ELJames) on female behavior.
The novel, known for its deliberately provocative and violent content towards women, would lead to risky behavior among its readers (alcohol, violent partners, unsuitable diets, multiple partners).
To arrive at such a finding, the researchers interviewed 655 women aged 18 to 24 via an online questionnaire on their behavior and their reading of the novel.
Among them, 219 have read at least the first volume of the trilogy, while the 436 other women have never opened one of the books of the saga.
Thanks to the answers to the questionnaire, scientists were able to establish statistics.
Compared to those who have never read the book, the women who have read the first book ‘Fifty Shades of grey‘thus had a 25% chance of having a partner capable of yelling at them or insulting them, a 34% chance of having a partner tending to’ stalk ‘them, and a more than 75% chance of having a day fasted more than 24 hours.
As for those who have read all the books of the saga, they had, according to the study, a 65% risk of having one day practiced binge drinking (ingesting a lot of alcohol at once) or of consuming more than five glasses of alcohol on the same occasion, for more than 6 days a month, as those who had not read the book.
Readers of the novel were also 63% more likely to have five or more sexual partners in their future lives.
While the researchers do not question the value of the book, they nonetheless stress the need to take a step back from what we read, in order not to expose ourselves to harmful behavior for health, or to violent partners.
“We recognize that the description of violence against women is not in itself a problem, especially if it helps to highlight the facts., explains Amy Bonomi, lead author of the study, the problem arises when the description of the violence reinforces the acceptance of the status quo instead of challenging it. “
To note : this study is in addition to that published last May, who suspected reading the novel to increase the number of sexually transmitted diseases in 50-year-olds. (Top health link)
Source:
Fiction or Not? Fifty Shades is Associated with Health Risks in Adolescent and Young Adult Females, published in the Journal of Women’s Health on August 21, 2014.
