/lit/ - Literature

So I'm reading The Awakening for a class, and I come across this.

"A book had gone the rounds of the pension. When it came her turn to read it, she did so with profound astonishment. She felt moved to read the book in secret and solitude, though none of the others had done so,—to hide it from view at the sound of approaching footsteps. It was openly criticised and freely discussed at table. Mrs. Pontellier gave over being astonished, and concluded that wonders would never cease"

This made me think of 50 Shades of Gray. A book tons of women are reading are openly reading and talking about with each other. Then one woman reads is like OMG WAT R THEY DOING? WHY IS EVERYONE READING THIS AND SO CAREFREE ABOUT IT? WHY CAN'T I STOP READING THIS? IT IS UNBECOMING OF A LADY. *SCHLICK* *SCHLICK* SCHLICK* *SCHLICK*SCHLICK* *SCHLICK*SCHLICK* *SCHLICK*SCHLICK* *SCHLICK*SCHLICK* *SCHLICK*SCHLICK* *SCHLICK*SCHLICK* *SCHLICK*SCHLICK* *SCHLICK*SCHLICK* *SCHLICK* OH DEAR!

TL;DR: Open discussion of "taboo" subjects. Is it empowering?