how to handle SA in storytelling and excusing SA in fandoms (coming from an SA victim)
for my first post in this blog, let’s talk about how SA is treated in popular/queer media. TW for discussion of SA, and toxic relationships.
What makes a relationship toxic?
A multitude of things can. A power imbalance, constantly criticizing your partner, manipulating your partner, and a lack of accountability in the relationship are a few things. When writing a toxic relationship, you can use so many things to SHOW its toxicity.
So, why do so many authors jump to SA first? Because of shock value. They treat a serious traumatic experience as a one off, “oh my god look it’s SA!! Look!! They’re so toxic!!” Thing.
For example, take Mizisua, a mutually toxic ship.
It was honestly quite well written to me pre-zomst. Mizi and Sua were both lying to each other. Mizi about her true personality and Sua about her intentions for when they finally have to go against each other. Mizi felt an urge to break Sua because of the constant objectification and control she felt growing up but Sua hated being treated like an object/doll. It was a well thought out, mutually toxic dynamic.
Zomst initially had me really interested. It was really well written up until Sua found infected Mizi and BAM, random SA, set up like “Isn’t this so shocking? Sua isn’t innocent at all!! Look!!”
I wouldn’t be concerned about this if ALL the main Alnst pairs didn’t have horribly written/Random SA in them. Hyuluka’s SA scene was horribly executed. And all that for Hyuna’s death to “SYMBOLIZE LUKA’S REBIRTH”
Also you can write a toxic relationship without hitting either, Mizi just beating the shit out of Sua all the time is js weird and ppl still glaze the shit out of it.
I’m not saying you can’t ship any of the main ships. This IS the Alnst critical tag and you should expect to see as such.
amandla
vaporwave
gummygunk
gracieabrams
blakekathryn
2087
prguitarman
