I have noticed a lot of hate on 50 Shades of Grey within the Manosphere. I am constantly overhearing 50 Shades jokes and talking down the story by women within the Manosphere. As well as from men as well that jump in as their own White Knights to defend the assault on Shades by Anti-Feminist women. I think this is highly mistaken and overlooking one of the most interesting aspects of this story. That this is actually a story that spread like wild fire in which you have a male victim.
Men's Rights Activists whom rant and rave against the story are missing out in my opinion. This is a story about a woman actually helping a man. Where a man is not the one that needs to be the strong one and always invulnerable. Nor is Christian's character disposable and treated like a utility. Not only that, but, you have a woman whom actually shows caring for the mistreatment of a boy. As opposed to trying to wipe it under the rug. Ana wants Christian to admit to his treatment and get help.
Nor is Christian ever portrayed as some monster that is victimizing a poor Ana. Despite what rad fems and even some MRA's seem to think. E.L. James clearly wants you to sympathize with a boy turned man that is a victim. Whom the female lead sees as a victim and can see he is a good man inside. While people rant and rave about how horrible Christian is it is funny I very rarely saw Ana consider him some beastly person. Especially in the movie where not a thing wrong even happens.
Additionally Christian is actually a very good look at how men can react to abuse and attempt to self-help their mental health issues. Instead of continually seeking the proper help and what the results of that could be. In addition; it shows what could happen if along with professional help men whom had bad pasts actually got the sort of treatment and respect by others they need to cope. Well, not everything might have been the best thing to do at least it does not paint the victim as a victimizer. Unlike the haters tend to do.
I am going to come out right now and admit I am a fairly big fan of the Fifty Shades story. I do not think this in anyway emasculates me for enjoying the story. The writing is shit in terms of being written properly I would agree. However, the story itself is a beautiful love story which actually redeems instead of vilifying the main male lead. In a world where one constantly sees men attacked left and right that is a welcome break from the everyday.
I think people need to really learn to take a disinterested view on the matter instead of being haters about the series. Especially those whom might find Christian much more relatable than they would like to admit. In how he has been left alone without help and expected to just "man up" from his very real abuse. With the after effects very apparent and in ones face about the outcome of not taking men's mental health seriously. Thankfully in Fifty Shades all ends happily. Not so in real life where the majority of completed suicides are men and boys.
