Stereotypes Abound

So there was finally a new episode of BONES on Wednesday night. Grisly murders, snappy dialogue and lightning fast forensics...gotta love it.

But... and there’s always a but...not long into the episode comes this little exchange. Jack and Cam are discussing Dr. Brennan’s new book, Red Tape, and how the murders are copy cat killings of those described in the novel. Cam says she hasn’t bought Tempe’s novel because she deals with death all day and doesn’t want to read about it for kicks. The conversation goes like this:

Jack: So for kicks you read?

Cam: ...feminist trash. Woman finds her power, leaves her oppressive husband and discovers freedom and fulfillment with an artist who knows how to cry and makes love like an animal.

Jack: So...sex books?

Cam: Pretty much.

What’s wrong with this picture? What Cam has described is basically an erotic romance. Of course someone as high brow as her has to cover up her embarrassment by calling it ‘trash’ and ‘feminist trash’ to boot! She sputters a little before responding to Jack’s initial question, because she doesn’t quite know how to describe her guilty little pleasure.

I think that’s sad and it just feeds into the stereotype that an intelligent, professional woman can only read this kind of stuff if she has a good excuse. Her job is too stressful to read mystery novels, so she reads for escapism. What’s wrong with that?

Why couldn’t her character have just had the guts to say, “Oh, me? Well, I like a good solid romp. I’m not interested in boring testimonials or pop-culture self help. I can’t stomach the latest sob fest or coming of age novel. I want a good, sexy adventure story that I can sink my teeth into and have fun reading. And...I didn’t read Dr. Brennan’s book, because I’m jealous as hell of her.”

That’s how I would have written the scene.

BTW – I do LOVE that the main character in Temperance Brennan’s novels is named Kathy Reichs. LOL.