punish her, but it is not allowed for Steele to do the same thing. The rules make him have rights to treat her with punishments and use her sexually.
It is seen that in the relationship, Grey is dominating by setting rules, controlling Steele‘s behavior, giving her things as gift, and telling what is good
and bad for the behalf of the relationship. His dominating characteristic is also shown during their sexual activity. There are other two evidences provided below,
presenting how Grey plays his role as the Dominant during the sexual activity. ―Turn around, face me,‖ he orders, his voice soft. I do as I‘m bid. He‘s
watching me intently. ―I know that lip is delicious, I can attest to that, but will you stop biting
it?‖ he says through clenched teeth. ―You chewing it makes me want to fuck you, and you‘re sore, okay?‖
I gasp, automatically unlocking my lip, shocked. ―Yeah,‖ he challenges. ―Got the picture.‖ He glares at me. I nod
frantically. I had no idea I could affect him so. ―Good.‖ He reaches forward and takes my iPod out of the breast pocket,
and he puts it by the sink. James, 2011: 95-96
From the first evidence, it is seen that Grey has absolute power over Steele in the relationship. It is shown through his actions and orders and the way Steele
responds to him. As the one who demands a lot, it indicates that he perceives the relationship is of his behalf. The demands he makes reflect what he should get
from the relationship and how he should be pleased by Steele. Furthermore, the portrayal of Grey as a lover is emphasized more in the second evidence below.
―Oh… please,‖ I whisper. I try to stiffen my legs as my body goes rigid. I am in a
sexual thrall to this man, and he doesn‘t let me move. ―I think you‘re clean enough now,‖ he murmurs, and he stops.
What No No No
My breathing is ragged. ―Why are you stopping?‖ I gasp.
―Because I have other plans for you Anastasia.‖ What… oh my… but… I was… that‘s not fair. James, 2011: 97
When Grey decides to stop washing her because he has another plan for her, it means that he is the one who is in charge to decide the further actions. The
further actions must be taken by him, not Steele. Steele, however, cannot argue to disagree because she is the Submissive and it is her job to follow his orders. Once
he orders, she has to do it. He does not receive any arguments or complaints from her to bargain his decision because that is not the type of the woman that he
wants. The way he controls her orgasm is also a strong evidence of his total power over her body. The one who decides whether she will reach orgasm is not her, but
him. It shows how the enjoyment of their sexual activity is determined by Grey and who controls the entire sexual activity, even each step of it.
At, a the junction of my thighs. I throw my head back and cry out as I almost detonate into
orgasm… I‘m on the brink, and he stops.
No
The bed shifts, and he kneels between my legs. He leans toward the bedpost, and the cuff on my ankle is suddenly gone. James, 2011: 340-
341
C. Sexual Assault as Gender and Class Oppression
The portrayal of Anastasia Steele as a woman, an employee, and a lover are related to and connected to each other. There is an intersection between her
gender as a woman, her class as the employee, and her role in the relationship with Grey. Both of her status as a woman and an employee related to
subordination and oppression. It is emphasized and portrayed more in her role as Grey‘s lover in the relationship. Besides, the portrayal of Christian Grey as a man,
an employer, and a lover are also related to and connected to each other. There is an intersection between his gender as a man, his class as the employer, and his
role in the relationship with Steele. Both of his status as a man and an employer
are related to power and control. It is emphasized and portrayed more in his role as Steele‘s lover in the relationship. When Steele and Grey are engaged in
relationship, there is an imbalance power between them because Grey is more powerful in term of gender and class than Steele is, as shown in their roles in
relationship. This imbalance power between them results in oppression towards Steele in a form of a legal contract which leads to sexual assault.
The first issue to discuss is gender oppression. What it means as gender oppression is the oppression that happens to Steele because she is a woman and it
is done by Grey because he is a man. Gender oppression happens because both of them live in patriarchal society in which Grey, as a man, has more privilege than a
woman has. The privilege here means as a man, Grey is able to see himself as the powerful, see Steele as the weak. As a man, Grey thinks it is acceptable to make
Steele subordinated because her role is related to domesticity, like being his companion and being able to please him sexually. However, Steele thinks it is
impossible to fight against him because she is a woman. Gender oppression is proved in Steele and Grey‘s roles in the BDSM relationship and results in sexual
assault. It is categorized as sexual assault because it is done by Grey without Steele‘s legal consent. Steele never wants to have BDSM Relationship with him.
She wants a normal relationship, in which she and he can love each other without needing the ten-page legal contract. However, Grey is only interested in having
BDSM Relationship. The way he manipulates Steele and how he promises to be what she wants lead her to Grey‘s trap, which is the BDSM relationship.
Therefore, she has to deal with sexual activity and punishments.
As a woman, Steele is expected to be a
real
woman, who obeys and serves men well. She is aware of what Grey wants from her in the relationship. He wants
her total submission to him. The example is taken from Grey‘s words. ―You look mighty fine trussed up like this, Miss Steele. And your smart mouth, quiet for
now. I like that ‖ James, 2011: 226. The total submission he wants can be seen
from the limitation for Steele to speak up. Grey likes the woman who is obedient and takes his orders without any complaints or disagreements. It is not her rights
to speak up and to express what she wants about the relationship. It is very prohibited for her to control him in the relationship. Therefore, she decides to be
quiet in order to be a woman that he likes. In addition to that, as a woman, she has also expectation towards herself,
which is to please him . ―His words curl around me like a soft fluffy towel from
the Heathman Hotel, and I‘m so pleased that he‘s happy‖ James, 2011: 194. She
expects herself to be loved by him, to behave to please him, and to respect him. Then, when she finds she can make him happy, she will be happy. It gives her a
feeling of being successful to be a good woman for him. However, if things happen oppositely, she will find herself guilty and sad. This is not something that
she wants as a woman, therefore whether she wants it or not, she has to be able to please him. Meanwhile, the thing which pleases him well is by being his
Submissive to be used sexually and dealt with punishments. I want to move, to writhe… to escape, or to welcome, each blow… I don‘t
know – it‘s so overwhelming… I can‘t pull my arms… my legs are
s tuck… I am held very firmly in place… and again he strikes across my
breasts – I cry out. And it‘s a sweet agony – bearable, just… pleasant – no,
not immediately, but as my skin sings with each blow in perfect counterpoint to the music in my head, I am dragged into a dark, dark part
of my psyche that surrenders to this most erotic sensation
. Yes
–
I get this
. He hits me across my hip. James, 2011: 340
As described in the passage above, Steele submits herself to Grey because
it is her obligations to please him. She has to let him take away her power in order to make him powerful as a man. It is the way that should be taken to maintain the
relationship. On the other hand, as a man, Grey is expected to be a
real
man who can dominate and control Steele. He also expects himself to be able to exercise his
power as a man over a woman to show he is the
real
man. The acknowledgement and respect from Steele are what he needs as a man. In addition, Grey oppresses
Steele from gender point of view. To show that he is masculine, he must use weapons to rip off her power. The weapons to exercise his power as a man are
through sex and punishments. ―Christian. You use sex as a weapon. It really isn‘t fair,‖ I whisper, staring
down at my hands, and then looking directly at him. He raises his eyebrows, surprised, and I see he‘s considering my words. He strokes his
chin thoughtfully. ―You‘re right. I do. In life you use what you know, Anastasia. Doesn‘t
change how much I want you . Here. Now.‖ James, 2011: 157
From the dialog, Grey shows that using sex over Steele is the symbol of
his masculinity. Besides, he regards Steele as the sexual object which is able to please him. Thus, using sex is a proof to him that he has power over
a woman‘s body. Besides using sex, his power as a man is shown through the punishments he
employs to Steele. And he hits me again and again. From somewhere deep inside, I want to
beg him to stop. But I don‘t. I don‘t want to give him the satisfaction. He
continues the unrelenting rhythm. I cry out six more times. Eighteen slaps in total. My body is singing, singing from his merciless assault.
―Enough,‖ he breathes hoarsely. ―Well done, Anastasia. Now I‘m going to fuck you.‖ James, 2011: 193
The quotation above shows the way Grey uses violence to justify his
power. By hitting her, Grey shows his superiority over her. In other words, he declares Steele‘s position as subordinated. It portraits the inequality between them
because Grey considers it is his ―rights‖ to treat her that way, while she does not have the same rights. Furthermore, after torturing her, she will be used sexually.
He uses her body without asking any permission to her. He feels it is right and acceptable to treat her the way he wants without her
consent because she is his; therefore she is just not different from a sexual object used for Grey‘s pleasure. Considering Steele as the sexual object, Grey regards
her body as his own property and it is his rights to it because he is the Dominant. He does not care about Steele‘s condition, whether she is hurt or not. Because her
body is considered to be his property, he uses it the way he wants. The second issue to discuss is class oppression experienced by Steele, also
proved in Steele and Grey‘s roles in the relationship, results in sexual assault. The class oppression happens because Steele and Grey come from different social
class. However, they are in relationship. The problem is caused because Grey is politically, socially, and economically powerful. His money and occupation in
society are his power then he feels he has authority over Steele because he can support her financially. In addition, he feels it is right for him to treat her the way
he likes. Before going further and discussing deeper, it is important to know how
Steele and Grey are presented in different social class. They are presented
