Fifty Shades of Grey and Twilight. Which one is more damaging to female societal mindsets?

Let me first apologise for the need for this post. I feel sorry for people who cannot simply enjoy a romance novel for the easy fun stress relief that it is. I read a twitter post from @Bookslive about a woman who thinks that Fifty Shades of Grey is an example of women in bondage and that it keeps all women who read it in societal bondage. Two things before I really begin. Dominance driven sex is not a made-up concept. It happens all over the world with men and women alike as dominants. Next, is it not a form of breaking convention for anyone, not just women, to be reading a book about such explicit content? I would have thought that that would be an opinion before th feminist question arose. The book is also a romance. It indulges that side of us that longs for a romantic adventure or just something more exciting than saying you met through friends or online. Denying this side of the internal female or saying that it is not worthy of exploring or excercising is a form of bondage. Just like in a Nora Roberts novel, Ana Steel is a strong woman. At the beginning of the novel Ana is unsure of herself and yes, Christian is the one to boost her confidance. Christian attempts to take control of her life but she stands up to him. The book demonstrates the same give-and-take/push-and-pull relationship that all couples should have. What makes Ana strong is that she is not submissive but she chooses to be so on occassion for her husband. The book is more like a manual on how to do deal with a difficult husband than a signal to all women to bend over. If this person wishes to bash any book with feminist scrunity it should be Twilight. Bella Swan is pathetic. She cannot go anywhere or do anything without her boyfriend. She constantly diminishes her own external beauty and goes on for pages about his. She sees herself unworhy of this boy. Only by radically changing her appearance, first with extensive make-up then by a physiological process does she see herself as worthy of him. This would all be fine, because let us face it who has not felt this way at some point?, if the Bella changed her thinking as well. Instead she immediately slides into the role of a mother. I admire mothers and I feel that motherhood should be considered a career and stay-at-home mothers paid salaries for their hardwork. But in combination with Bella's attitude of "my boyfriend and my child define my life" it comes over as bondage. The worst part? Little girls and teenagers that are starting to shape their opinions and ideas about life read Twilight.
In conclusion I just want to say that I am sorry that someone can't read a romance novel without getting up on a soapbox and whining about something. I also want to apologise for any spelling and grammer mistakes in this post. I was checking my morning twitter feed and became so passionate that I typed the whole thing on my phone. Enjoy!

The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook

Dear readers
Steampunk romance is on the rise. For those of who do not know, Steampunk is the combination of Regency or Victorian England with clockwork mechanics. Airships, steamships, clockwork mechanisms, Napoleon usually, aliens occasionally, mixed with bonnets, pirates, chaperons and rakes. Think "Wild Wild West". Meljean Brook follows a slightly different path with Genghis Khan and his army of mongols having conquered Europe and corrupted most of the world's population. In "The Iron Duke" we follow Mina as she is pursued by a man who is both a gentleman and a pirate. Filled with passion and adventure this is a great read for romance fantasy lovers. If you enjoyed Nalini Singh's Archangel series then you should deffinitely try The Iron seas.

Charmed Vigilance by Su-Mari Diedericks

Dear readers

Say hello to South African author, Su-Mari Diedericks. 'Charmed Vigilance' is the first in the V'leChronos Trilogy. Su-Mari introduces us to new world where one girls' gift with music becomes a tool in the fight for a stable future. This is a new kind of paranornal romance. No vampires, were-wolves, faeries or ghosts. Instead, we see a whole civilisation seperated from humans long-ago. Jocelyn's relationship with Aidan is intense but the reader cannot help but feel that there is something wrong with it. The book encapsulates two opposing forces, occasionally showing a dark, temptation to which Jocelyn is being drawn, offset by the light-filled moments that become ever less as Jocelyn sinks deeper into Aidan's charms. This story is fresh and thrilling and will leave you shooting nervous glances at your mirrors. Available from Amazon.com on your kindle.