Rape Fantasies Kept Hidden...

Atwood's "Rape Fantasies" is a light discussion on the topic of rape and the reaction of women in an office environment setting. They discus their fantasies and their reactions are varied. Estelle is the main character which whom speaks to the reader directly as if in a personal conversation.

I believe that "Rape Fantasies" was removed from the American Edition of "Dancing Girls and other Short Stories" because at that time in the 60s and 70s people in America were not comfortable yet in openly talking about sex and other obscene topics, especially hearing these types of topics coming from a woman author. Sex and violence appeared improper for women to talk about and women were supposed to remain private about serious happenings like this in society because overall women didn't have the same rights and opportunities as men did. The battle for women's rights and being treated equally has come a long way and today women are more outspoken then ever before, which is a great liberation that many of us younger generations seem to not appreciate as much as we should.  

I do agree that it helped when Norton published Atwood's "Rape Fantasies" and allowed such literature to get in the door and women were finally beginning to be taken seriously. It was all Atwood of course that created her own success. She is a brilliant writer and her views on such topics makes her way before her time!