This is only a criticism on how I've seen too many books and films and shows banking on using this specific sexual assault trauma to look deep and feminist without any of the depth involved, not on real life trauma.
The worst way to portray the sexual assault women/people go through is by having the victim willing to be alone with the person who is about to hurt them.
Don't get me wrong- this happens. Maybe people change their mind the last minute or are manipulated, so having a character do so- with good communication to the audience- is fine and can make a story better.
But the problem is that most shows and books that use this method don't go as deep as they think they do.
Many shows ((the ones I am thinking of now, but I've seen others do this) I-Land, Degrassi) and comics (specifically (the one I am thinking about is) The Ribbon Queen) do this thing;
Character A is romantic with character B- who they just met and do not know in any way. They willingly go to a room alone with this person. THEY SEE THE DOOR CLOSE (or realize they are alone with others being too far to call too), but A is still happy being with B despite the impending horror that should arrive at this point. They might get nervous, but obviously, they still trust them.
Then, they kiss, and A's all happy still, until B tries to force sex, in which A is all of a sudden scared and traumatized.
The problem with these scenes, is that it makes it look like the victim is a fucking idiot.
Yes, A is still a victim, but the difference is- A is often old enough to see the moment they should have said no just to be safe. Even at 16, you understand the concept of stranger danger. They don't know them! That should be enough to be careful! But they won't, and something happens due to it.
But then you could say, "Hey! They wouldn't have listened!" Yes! But unlike being pulled or drunk or manipulated into an uncomfortable situation, they are fully aware of how bad this could be and just don't care until it is too late.
Yeah, folks do dumb things, and the person is still a victim regardless. However, when the victim trusts the unknown person the entire time, DESPITE the warning signs and knowing how society thinks about sex,
1. It is a valid story, but without more depth, It makes it look like we ask to get raped bc we're too trusting and dumb to notice the obvious and glaringly radioactive red flags.
2. It's harder to understand someone's (who has gone through this particular) sexual assault as more than just a "consequence of their lack of awareness." Think about it. There are kids being manipulated by rapey uncles and families who won't believe them bc they won't break up the family. There are boys and girls in war-torn countries being used in the worst way possible bc they are not seen as human in the eyes of the opposition. Hell, boys can't even talk about sexual assault without a bunch of women saying the same things misogynists have told them just because they literally assume they just want attention (again, when the misogynists have done and said to them.) There are drunk people who wake up without even knowing what happened! Why would someone care about a grown person who should've known better and just didn't care until it was too late! There's others to worry about!
This is different because the person usually says no from the beginning OR truly believes they want it, but changes their mind.
In this case, character A said yes the entire time, and then- unless they were born on Mars and don't know how people work- I guess they figured they were gonna play some fuckin Mario Kart because they're SURPRISED when the abuser tries to rape them, or thinks the "no, no, no" is all a game.
The worst part is, these are often people who KNOW how the world thinks of sex and would be just as confused if a person went into a locked room with someone and came out saying they were raped.
WHY WOULD YOU GO INTO A LOCKED/CLOSED ROOM WITH A PERSON YOU DON'T KNOW IF YOU DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE SEX!? IF THEY WANTED TO JUST TALK, THEY WOULD HAVE DONE IT IN PUBLIC! NOT ALONE!
Once again, all rape stories are valid. None is less painful than the other. I just think if any entertainment media wants to have a serious, valid and thought provoking talk about the shit women and/or sexual assault victims go through; they can't constantly bank on the one situation that- if used without any depth or care- makes the victims look more like idiots who stood in front of a racing car and got surprised when they were hit.
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