Sir, – All throughout history and today, many women have chosen to become sexual objects to unjustly advance themselves, materially and socially, whereas many men have used violence to similarly advance themselves. Jennifer O’Connell (“Fifty Shades seemed fun at first, now it just disturbs me”, Life, September 5th) must accept that the feminist idea that women are forced by men to become sexual objects flatters women and slanders men. The Fifty Shades novels evidence the preferred modes of exploitation of each gender, respectively: violence and sex. Feminist vilification of men, and its corresponding apotheosis of women as the martyred angels of demonic men, is offensive. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – I would like to commend Jennifer O’Connell. Abuse, fictional or real, left unquestioned is always harmful. Abuse, popularised and marketed like toothpaste, is disturbing. – Yours, etc,