William J. Bennet has written an intriguing piece on how he believes “hookup culture is degrading to women” but he misses the point on the nature of entertainment media and the portrayal of certain consenting adult activities. The culture of “consensual slavery” as portrayed in EL James’ “Fifty Shades of Gray” has very little to do with “hookup culture” per se.

Likewise, the entertainment he discusses is not fact it’s fiction and may not represent the whole.

Honestly, I am very very much in favor of preserving women’s rights and of treating them – and pretty much everyone else – with respect. However, the activities being described are a part of a recreational activity that is often akin to roleplay. Yes, there are misogynists pricks out there who do need a comeuppance but there are also folks who play safely, sanely, and keep consent very much an integral part of what they do.

Consensual slavery as recreational sex relationship is NOT the same as real slavery, even when there are “slave contracts” involved.

Let’s put our energy into saving the millions of people being sold into sexual slavery each year . . . the real thing . . . and not waste time policing folks’ consensual activities in the privacy of their bedrooms.

Please don’t get me wrong. I respect Bennet. However, in this we will respectfully disagree . . . or not but we do disagree. See the CNN piece at http://edition.cnn.com/2012/04/04/opinion/bennett-modern-women/index.html?hpt=hp_c2.

– Brian