In the movie 1965 movie “Thunderball,” Sean Connery’s character James Bond storms, without consent, into the bathroom as a woman bathes. When the woman asks for a cover to step out of the tub, Bond simply hands her a pair of heels. Later in the film, viewers see Bond forcing his lips on a woman as she tries to push him away.

 These were just two of the many scenes in the Bond series moments when Bond forces himself on women without their consent. These moments are an implicit endorsement of what later generations called rape culture — the idea that men are allowed to dominate women and then claim the woman had “asked for it.”

The Bond movies go back 60 years and are regarded as legendary in the film industry. Several are among the highest grossing action films in history. They became a template for spy movies and influenced how cinema industries have shaped themselves over the years.

But the character and the actor have issues regarding their behavior toward women, and people continue to blindly support the films. Although someone who has already passed cannot be confronted, it’s important to reflect on what Hollywood displayed as a standard for how men treat women.

Connery’s behavior toward women didn’t stop off the screen. He allegedly physically and mentally abused his first wife, Australian actress Diane Cilento, due to “jealous rages,” according to The Scotsman. Cilento claimed in her autobiography “My Nine Lives” that his behaviors stemmed from his resentment to her success after she refused to be a housewife and his “[inability] to cope” with the fame brought by the Bond films.

Although Connery has always denied these allegations from his ex-wife, speculation rose after he commented on hitting women in a 1965 interview with Playboy.

“I don’t think there is anything particularly wrong in hitting a woman, though I don’t recommend you do it the same way that you hit a man,” Connery said.

In another interview in 1993 with Vanity Fair, he again made comments about abusing women, saying, “They want a smack.” When questioned about these remarks, he denied ever saying them.

But the issue with the Bond series doesn't stop at Connery’s alleged abuse incidents and remarks about women. The so-called Bond Girls in the film series are usually portrayed as submissive and props for the male lead. 

Cleveland State University released a content analysis of 20 Bond films that assessed portrayals of 195 female roles. The study found that there is a trend of overly-sexualized characteristics in Bond women.

Many of the Bond girls, for example, have had blatantly sexual names, such as Pussy Galore from the film “GoldFinger,” and Octopussy from “Octopussy.” Names such as Dink, Plenty O'Toole, Xenia Onatopp or Holly Goodhead from the films are also double entendres and debase the female characters.

Devoted Bond fans defend the films, saying that the novels that gave rise to these movies began in a time when most people accepted blatant sexism as normal. 

But these kinds of claims have the effect of normalizing misogyny in Hollywood even today. What makes it hard to identify Bond’s acts as inappropriate is the fact that many viewers idolize Bond and overlook his misogyny, instead associating him with martinis, acts of heroism and sleeping with any woman he pleases.

But if you take a step back from his knightley facade, it’s apparent Bond is simply a chauvinistic character who uses women as decorations. 

For example, in “GoldFinger,” Bond introduces Dink, a hotel masseuse, to his friend Felix. He states that it’s “time for man talk,” implying Dink would be “at use” for his friend, then smacks Dink on her behind and shoos her away as though she is a child.

Although the misogyny toward Bond Girls has not been eliminated entirely, women have been getting more screen time and better character developments in the franchise, thanks to Hollywood’s gradual evolution toward gender equality over the years. 

The 1997 James Bond movie “Moonraker” displayed the female lead as a scientist with a real job. Denise Jones in “The World is Not Enough” had a doctorate in nuclear physics and spoke fluent Russian.

Still, this is no guarantee that the movies will give women better roles. There have been fluctuations in the James Bond series, but it is not straight incline.

Although Connery will go down in history as one of the most idolized and well-respected, history will denote that both the actor and the films contributed to a demeaning portrayal of women. Rather than blindly idolize Connery, fans should recognize and learn from the issues surrounding his on- and off-screen characters. Both Bond and Connery are examples of how men should not behave.