Abstract
Background and aims
Many women in Bond films make love to James Bond (alias 007). Our objective was to quantify the practice of (un)safe sex in Bond films.
Methods and results
All 24 Bond films were watched together by the authors and the following data were recorded: if the women had sex with 007, whether the women consumed any alcohol before they had sex, whether contraceptives were mentioned and/or used by 007 or the women and whether the women survived the film. Bond had sexual relations with a total of 58 different women. Twenty-two percent of the women had consumed alcohol. In none of the films was any type of contraception mentioned or used. A total of 28% women did not survive the film.
Conclusion
If he were real, Bond outnumbers the British men at least fivefold when it comes to the number of sexual partners over a lifetime. Nevertheless, over time casual sex is becoming less frequent for 007. Sexually transmitted diseases, safe sex and (unwanted) pregnancies seem not to exist in the films. Some suggestions were made to promote safe sex in future Bond films as movies can play an important role in sex education.
Introduction
The way in which women are taken for granted by fictional British secret agent James Bond – also known as 007 – and are easily replaced by the next sexual conquest is striking. Obviously, many women in Bond films could join the Me Too movement: #MeT007. These women are characterised by extreme beauty, youth and have slender – unrealistic – bodies; and the Bond character encourages stereotypical, sex-typed male attitudes, especially when interacting with women. 1
The representation of these women who – no matter how strong, intelligent, independent and even lesbian they are – at a certain moment will want nothing but to make love to Bond, led to the current research. This article addresses some aspects of (un)safe sex in all Bond films released up to the present day. We will discuss any possible influence this could have on its viewers as well as making some suggestions that could promote safe sex in future Bond films.
Methods
This retrospective film review was conducted at the authors’ home. All James Bond films (EON productions) were viewed together by the authors on DVD between April and August 2017. A female character was included in the analysis when she had sex at some point with Bond in one of the movies. For the purposes of the paper, sex was unusually defined as 007 and the woman kissing and/or touching one another while already being naked, being stripped by the other one or undressing themselves; eventually in combination with 007 and/or the woman making explicit or indirect referral(s) to sexual relations between the two of them, just before or after the actual deed took place.
The following data were recorded for each character: title of film; year of release; the characters’ name; the actress’ name; whether the women consumed any alcohol before they had sex with him; whether contraceptives were mentioned and/or used by 007 or the women and whether the women survived the film.
The raw data were collected in an Excel sheet for descriptive analyses. The DVDs were bought for this study by one of the authors without extraneous funding of any kind.
Results
Bond had sexual relations with a total of 58 different women in 24 films (Table 1 and Figure 1) and a mean of 2.5 (range 1–4) women per film.
Number of sexual encounters per film by 007; plotted over time. The dotted line depicts the trend line. All women who had sex with 007. Source: http://jamesbond.wikia.com. The only woman to appear in two (subsequent) films.
At least 13 times (22%), the women had consumed alcohol before going to bed with Bond. In none of the sexual encounters was any type of contraception either discussed or referred to. A total of 16 (28%) women did not survive the film (Table 1).
Discussion
The limitations of this study included the suggestive nature of Bond films when it comes to making love; at various occasions we cannot be certain that Bond indeed did have sex, as the foreplay is clearly depicted, but the actual deed is only suggested. However, the conclusion drawn by the authors will likely be the same as that drawn by most other viewers, and hence, a powerful, sexually explicit message will be delivered to the audience.
If he were real, Bond has had sex with 58 women and British men had an average number of 11.7 sexual partners over a lifetime, so they are by far outnumbered by Bond. 2 Nevertheless, over time the number of sexual encounters per film has decreased (Figure 1).
As opposed to Bond himself, who is known to drink heavily (over four times the advised maximum alcohol consumption for an adult male), 3 only one-fifth of the women drank alcohol before having sex with him. It has been demonstrated that moderate 4 as well as higher 5 alcohol intake increases the probability of having casual intercourse. However, for Bond’s sexual success rate it seems to make no difference whether his ‘target’ has consumed alcohol. Meanwhile, his own unhealthy high level of alcohol consumption seems to have no influence on his sexual functioning. 3
A recent study has shown that males are more willing to have sex with attractive women, but are less inclined to use condoms when they do so. 6 This, together with his alcohol consumption, might partially explain why Bond is never seen with or mentions the use of condoms to his – without exception – very attractive sexual partners. Obviously, all of these characteristics make Bond very prone to be contaminated with one or more sexually transmitted disease (STD) such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, genital herpes or HIV. 007
Every sexual encounter also contains a risk of unwanted pregnancy. However, one might argue that chances are practically zero that Bond is fertile, in view of the repetitive testicle-whipping depicted in Casino Royale (2006). 8 This movie is a so-called reboot: whilst the 21st in the film franchise, it is chronologically situated at the very beginning of Bond’s spy career. This means the presumed infertility would have been present in all films preceding (and following) Casino Royale. Certainly, both pregnancy and STDs would seem the least of the women’s worries since 28% die soon after their sexual encounter with Bond.
Although in none of the films was any type of contraception discussed, the subject of ‘protection’ is touched upon once, in Goldeneye (1995). When Bond points a gun at Xenia Onatopp – known to kill her sexual partners – she tries to seduce him and says, ‘You don’t need the gun’. Bond replies to this with, ‘Well, that depends on your definition of safe sex’.
The world has changed a lot since the first Bond movie was released – during the sexual revolution of the swinging 60s – but the films have not moved along when it comes to STD prevention; STDs seem not to exist. This appears to be a missed opportunity, as audiences are open to (healthy) sex education as presented in movies, 9 as, for example, convincingly demonstrated by an episode of American sitcom Friends (awareness about condom efficacy). 10
Furthermore, movies are among the most pervasive and powerful influences that we have on how we view men and women,
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and a broad variation of sexually suggestive messages are frequently depicted in films (Table 2).
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After major consultation and consideration, the authors have come to the conclusion that there is yet a great opportunity for the Bond film(s) to promote safe sex. What a great role model Bond could be if he brought up the subject of ‘safe sex’ before the actual deed happens? Or Q – head of the Research and Development Division – could provide Bond with a gadget that contains condoms? Perhaps a smart phone containing the world’s smallest 3D printer, which can print on demand as many condoms as needed (Figure 2). It would even be possible to suggest that Bond has been careful all along by making Q say something like: ‘This can replace your inseparable watch with the concealed compartment. Time moves on’.
Licence to spill: 3D print on demand of condoms whenever needed by 007. Sexually suggestive messages that are frequently depicted in films.
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Guide to responsible sexual content in films. 13
Conclusions
If James Bond were real, he outnumbers the British men at least fivefold when it comes to the number of sexual partners over a lifetime. However, over the years, casual sex is becoming less frequent. Bond’s sexual success rate is independent of alcohol consumption by either his target or himself.
It seems very likely that Bond is infertile due to testicular injuries, and hence the risk for unwanted pregnancies is close to zero. STDs and safe sex seem not to exist in Bond films, but obviously Bond’s promiscuity substantially enhances the risk of spreading STDs. Certainly, both pregnancy and STDs would seem the least of the women’s worries since 28% die soon after copulation. We make a number of suggestions to promote safe sex in future Bond films, as movies can play an important role in sex education.
Contributorship
LDAZ and RHCZ watched all Bond films and transferred the data into Excel. LDAZ advised in writing the paper and commented on the drafts. RHCZ drafted the paper and edited the manuscript.
Research ethics and patient consent
Ethical approval was not sought since all Bond films are fictional.
Footnotes
Acknowledgement
We thank Eelco M Busch (MD, PhD) for reviewing a draft of our manuscript.
Declaration of Conflicting Interests
The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
Funding
The author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.