As last month’s poll gave us a virtual split decision as to whether us girls are in favour of haggling, let’s see if we can’t get a more definitive result this month by asking whether or not we are fans of female erotic fiction.

The bestselling book Fifty Shades of Grey by author E.L. James tells of a deepening emotional and sexual relationship between a young female college graduate, and a male business magnate. The book features explicit descriptions of sexual practices such as bondage and discipline, dominance and submission and sadism and masochism. Its popularity has in many ways given those women who might not previously have considered reading such material an excuse to do so, if only to see what all the fuss is about. At least that was the excuse my mother gave!

Cover of Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James. Photo from www.ew.com.
The literary quality of the book has been under scrutiny, but opinion has also been divided as to whether the content of this book and others like it, are damaging to the feminist cause and may even be perpetuating violence against women. Critics have responded to this by suggesting that a woman being sexually submissive is not tantamount to them being the victim of abuse, and that the relationship between the lead characters in the book is entirely consensual.

The book is also said to highlight the fact that many women seem to be uncomfortable with the concept of power and free will in relationships and, indeed, with sexual equality.

But if the book is so detrimental to the feminist cause, then what does that say about our female population, who have bought millions of copies?

Putting that debate to one side though, perhaps you simply enjoy reading erotic fiction; learning about other people’s sexual relationships and possibly even picking up a few tips along the way? Or maybe you find books like Fifty Shades of Grey to be unnecessarily naughty and prefer not to know what other couples might get up to under the covers?

Please take a few minutes to join the debate and vote in our facebook poll:

Love it : There’s nothing naughty about a raunchy read!

Loathe it : I can’t stand even thinking about it!

Vote on Facebook, here!