HBO's "Girls" Explores Female Fantasies of Sexual Submissiveness

While the female desire to be sexually submissive has been explored through popular culture in the past, HBO's Girls has shed new light onto the often taboo subject.

The new TV series, which offers a so-called realistic look at the lives of 20-something-year-olds living in New York, has sparked curiosity over how common it is for women to fantasize about surrendering in a sexual context.

In its exploration of domination-themed female fantasies, the show has suggested that many women have become comfortable with the unconventional concept.

Written and directed by Lena Dunham, who also plays lead character Hannah on the show, Girls' Sunday night premiere featured multiple references to sexual surrendering.
One particular scene showed Hannah lying flat on her stomach as Adam, her casual boyfriend is shown spanking her while they have sex.
Her feelings for Adam, who is seen saying things like 'you should never be anyone's... slave, except mine,' and 'if you come up I'm going to tie you up and keep you here for three days. I'm just in that kind of mood,' are shown to be growing.

Newsweek reported that an analysis of 20 studies that were published in Psychology Today found that up to 57% of women entertain fantasies where they are forced to have sex.

Daniel Bergner, an author who is writing a book about female desire which is intended for publication next year, said 'rape fantasies' are not uncommon.
He explained: '[They are] a place where politics and Eros meet, uneasily. It is where what we say and what is, stand next to each other, mismatched.'


Fifty Shades of Grey, an erotic novel which sold two million copies in one month, also offers a warts-and-all look at the sexual desire of women.
Some have argued that the book's material may be too explicit for the big screen but others have said the content is a refreshing take on the realities of sexual submission.

Amy Odell, Buzzfeed.com's Shift editor, wrote that she 'hated where the conversation went with the book.
She added: 'It's normal to want that kind of sexual role with a partner.'
Anna North, the website's senior editor, said popular culture has done a good job at portraying men's sexual fantasies, but not women's.
She said: 'Much attention has been paid to the consumerist fantasies of women, a la Sex And The City. Having a giant apartment full of shoes.'

Odell added: 'For all the world knows, fashion is our porn.'