The Sweet Tang Of Rape
September 7, 2009 No Comments
Casino Royale is one of Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels and I am reading it for the first time. I have always liked Bond and, although a womaniser and a bit sexist, I could overlook that because of all the exciting, sexy, heroic adventures that he had. A very small part of me wanted to be a Bond Girl so that I could take part in the adventures and meet the man.
That is why I was so appalled when I read the following excerpt:
She was thoughtful and full of consideration without being slavish and without compromising her arrogant spirit. And now he knew that she was profoundly, excitingly sensual, but that the conquest of her body, because of the central privacy in her, would each time have the sweet tang of rape.
“Sweet tang of rape”!!! Like rape could be a positive experience? Like all men would like to experience it and enjoy it? Is that like the sweet tang of a grapefruit; slightly bitter but overall a tasty and healthy experience?!
I keep having to remind myself that I grew up in the 1980s, after the feminist movement, when men and women were (for the most part) considered equals and partners and individuals with rights.
These books were written in the 1950s, before the feminist movement, when women were still often considered as less intelligent than men, less capable than men, and property of men. A lot of things regarding the relations of the sexes that I consider normal are only recent inventions and sometimes I find that hard to believe. They were called Bond Girls after all, and not Bond Women.
I seriously hope that not all men were like Ian Fleming and Bond; wanting to experience rape. Now, a bit of light S&M with consenting adults, that is a very different (and very fun) experience. But rape?! No thank you!
