A new study has found that the best-selling sadomasochistic “romance” novel, Fifty Shades of Grey, is perpetuating the problem of violence against women.

The Daily Mail is reporting on a new study, entitled “Double Crap! Abuse and Harmed Identity in ‘Fifty Shades of Grey,’ ” published in the Journal of Women’s Health.

Researchers at Ohio State University found that the sadomasochistic relationship engaged in by lead characters Anastasia and Christian are indicative of patterns of intimate partner violence documented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

For instance, some of the abuse prevalent in the book includes stalking, intimidation, threats, isolation and humiliation, all of which are part of the CDC’s definition of intimate partner abuse.

Anastasia’s reactions to these abuses are also consisted with those of abused women. For instance, she feels a constant sense of threat and loss of identity, changes her behavior to keep peace in the relationship, and feels trapped and powerless.

“This book is perpetuating dangerous abuse standards and yet it’s being cast as this romantic, erotic book for women,” said study author Amy Bonomi, incoming chair and professor of the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at Michigan State University. “The erotic content could have been accomplished without the theme of abuse.”

The problem of abuse is much too prevalent in today’s world. About 25 percent of American women are victims of intimate partner abuse. Internationally, the number jumps 71 percent.

In spite of its violent content, the book, written by E. L. James and published in 2011, has sold more than 70 million copies, making it the hottest selling paperback of all time.

“We do not want to ban the book,” Dr. Bonomi told the Detroit Free Press. “What we do want is for people to understand abuse patterns. Just knowing the patterns exist and calling it out is important. I can’t tell you the number of students I’ve had in my classrooms who’ve told me they had no idea what they were experiencing was abuse. Simply being aware is the first step in potentially improving things in your situation.”

That people are imitating the book and engaging in sado-masochistic behavior – sometimes to the point of death – is evident just by reading news reports. Consider the case of 31 year-old Swedish man who accidentally killed his 28 year-old “sex slave” girlfriend after hitting her 123 times with a wooden blackboard pointer and binding her in nylon tights and condoms.

Then there’s the murder of 22 year-old Brittany Killgore, also in 2012, by a threesome of people who were living together in a Fifty-Shades-of-Grey-style life of domination, submission and sadomasochism.

But these are just a sampling of the cases that made the news. Not nearly as newsworthy has been the proliferation of sado-masochistic playtime between couples that goes on behind closed doors, much of which may not be deadly but can still be harmful to women.

Last year, during an interview with Katie Couric, author E. L. James dismissed concerns about the impact of this kind of violence against women, accusing people who think that way “of demonizing women who actually enjoy these kinds of relationships.”

James said: “What people get up to behind closed doors, providing it is safe, sane, consensual and legal, is completely up to them and it’s not for you, I or anybody to judge.”

Dr. Bonomi does not agree and says this is the kind of thinking that allows men to get away with violence against women.

“We think if it goes on behind closed doors, it’s nobody’s business. How many murder suicides do we have to continue to see?” Dr. Bonomi asks. “If people see someone beating a child hard, they’re likely to step in, say something or report it. That’s not so true when people know a woman is being beaten.”

The problem seems destined to stay around for awhile as Hollywood is in the process of producing a film based on the book.

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