Todd Crillan looked out the second story window of his class room, squinting against the late spring sun that warmed the room. Behind him, his class shuffled through the door and into their seats. It was the last period of the day and they had recently finished their last module, with only a few weeks left before final exams he had given them an assignment to help shake off all the heavy literature they had been reading.
When a tone over the school speakers sounded the start of class he turned and watched the last few students walk through the door. Once everyone was in their seats, he walked over and closed it before stopping at the front of the room. "Alright, class. Last week I had told you I wanted you to read a book in your favourite genre and I would select a couple of you to talk about your selections. The last few periods you have been able to use for studying and reading. Any volunteers."
After the first two students, his more enlightened readers of the class, gave presentations on the latest fantasy and general literature choices, Clare put up her hand. She flashed him a smile that she constantly tried to use on him. "I like romance."
A couple of the guys in the class groaned, though they cut off quickly enough when Todd gave them a hard glare.
"The romance genre is pretty large and encompassing. What book did you read?" Todd had seen her reading it and had forced himself not to show his own disgust at the thing.
Clare stood up and held up a particularly trashy looking book. "It's called Teacher's Pet. About how the heroine is the subject of bullies and is rescued by her attractive, secretly rich teacher."
It was then that Todd had an idea. With a nod, he murmured. "What was the plot?"
"Well... Tiffany doesn't like school. She's turning eighteen and she has a new Math teacher who just started, he's like twenty seven. He starts tutoring her and they fall in love." Clare shrugged and grinned hopefully to him.
"Which is all illegal." Todd offered, before glancing to the classroom. "You raise a pretty good topic, on the idea of consent and how literature can shape the expectations and culture of a generation."
"Why is it illegal? They're in love." Rick rolled his eyes from the corner, smirking over at Clare who was pouting.
Todd shook his head. "Because the teacher is in a position of authority over the young adult. It's against codes of conduct and most laws. Besides that, relationships that start from an imbalance of power are unhealthy and lead to trauma in the part of the victimized party."
Sarah sighed dramatically. "But if they're soulmates, she'll realize it and it'll be good."
Todd frowned and turned to the next student. "That is another dangerous message within some popular literature, that there is some magical connection that transcends individuality. You should be encouraged to pursue your dreams and goals, not waiting around for some partner that will complete you. Love comes from hard work and being a strong, well rounded individual first. What book did you read, Sarah?"
The girl stood and held up a book with the picture of a half naked, long haired man in a kilt possessively grasping a woman in a torn dress that barely covered her decently. "It's called the Dark Laird. Molly is a commoner who is a village healer, and she is brought to the castle to help heal Lord Connal's injured younger brother. Connal realizes that she needs to be his and she finds happiness when she finally agrees to be his wife."
"Again, with the power dynamic." Todd shook his head slowly and frowned at the book cover for a moment, then glanced up to Sarah. " Are there scenes in which he forces her to receive his affection?"
"Yeah, but she ends up liking it." Sarah rolled her eyes. "He teaches her passion and they're soulmates."
This answer caused the classroom to break out in laughter and the boys to let out cat calls until Todd glared at all of them. "No. That is rape. Or sexual assault. And healthy relationships don't start with that. In fact, abusive, dangerous relationships start that way. And the lack of body autonomy is traumatizing to those exposed to it. There is no 'soulmate' cure to sexual assault."
