For many child abuse activists, the elephant in the room is how inadequately protected minors are from the kind of treatment Ana receives as a consenting adult.

It's worth noting that if Mr. Grey were a high school principal in, say, Texas, he could routinely spank teenage girls without breaking any laws. The only consent he might need is that of the girls' parents. For illustration, look up the case of Jessica Serafin v. School of Excellence in Education. (See related also: fiftyshadesofchildabuse.org).