Shades of erotica sweeping the suburbs
If you haven’t been paying attention lately, the women of this country are suddenly very interested in a certain piece of literature.
I don’t even have to mention the title for everyone to know exactly what I’m talking about. The conversation usually starts like this, “Guess what I’m reading?” said in the most sing-songy way possible. Everybody knows the answer, and it seems every woman in suburban America is reading it.
Full disclosure: I haven’t read “the book” yet.
I find it fascinating that this book is so acceptable in mainstream conversations. Moms are sharing it with their adult daughters.
Grown women are discussing it at dinner conversation. Work friends compare notes.
What gives? Why is this book of “erotica” OK, but other types of porn not OK?
Some women in Overland Park are going crazy about removing a half-naked statue of a woman in an art garden exposing her breasts at the Overland Park arboretum, but book clubs all over the suburbs are discussing “the book” with such openness it would make Dr. Ruth Westheimer blush. The Real Housewives of Hypocrisy Lane I’ll call it. Sign the petition to remove the statue of the woman exposing her breasts during the day, read our lady porn and gossip with our friends about it during the evening.
Another interesting observation I’ll make is that suburban women are very territorial about their porn, excuse me, erotica. I had a guy friend of mine mention that he was reading “the book.”
Wait a minute buddy! You can’t read “the book.” You are a guy.
If you want your porn, it is perfectly acceptable for you to walk into any convenience store and simply buy a porno magazine. You can order up your porn from any cable company and not be mortified about what the cable company is going to think when your porno title shows up on your cable bill.
You are a guy and these things are acceptable for you. Yes, we know, you read Playboy for “the articles,” but still.
We are women. We have to be much more discreet about our erotica.
If women were like men when it comes to erotica our suburban mom cards would be revoked. We would be kicked off of the soccer sidelines.
Our minivans would be repossessed. We would never be allowed in the zero entry kiddie pool again.
This book is ours. When I even mentioned to my girlfriends about my guy friend reading “the book” I got the exact same reaction that I had, how dare he.
He had no right to read our book. I felt like they were ready to light the torches and march over to his house demanding “the book” back immediately.
He had taken from us our one wonderful, mainstream acceptable “erotic” treat.
Is the openness of this erotica fiction a testament to how far feminism has come in America? Is it a commentary to the sexualized society we now live in?
Is this acceptance of a book like this a symptom of America’s tailspin into moral depravity? Some may say so.
I, however, am withholding judgment until I read the book cover to cover, and then I will form my own opinion. I feel that is only fair. Look for my part two follow up after I’ve read “the book.”
Aimee Patton, of Overland Park, owns two companies, one in convention and meeting planning, the other in presentation design. She volunteers and enjoys tweeting, traveling, playing tennis and mah-jongg. She is raising a 5-year-old daughter. To reach her, send email to oped@kcstar.com or write to Midwest Voices, c/o Editorial Page, The Kansas City Star, 1729 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, Mo. 64108.
Mark Hastert
11 months, 2 weeks agoGotta do something to spice things up in Over-bland Park.
George Hunsucker
Northland
11 months, 2 weeks agoAimee, this is not The National Enquirer blog..
You have to be better then this…..
There are so many things you could be blogging about….
John W Mack Jr.
11 months, 2 weeks agoGeesh!! This country needs a healthy dose of depravity to shake off all this puritanical and evangelical nonsense! People act as if humans are not sexual beings. If they aren’t, we got a whole mess of people that shouldn’t be here. The popularity of this book is showing that there is a glimmer of hope for the future of our country.
Tom Ryan
Crossroads, Kansas City
11 months, 2 weeks agoreading all three books? …Fifty Shades of Grey, Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed…?