hey i fully respect the post was from a minute ago when you were talking about how characters can be CSA survivor coded - but i just saw it now - could you expand? ideally with examples? from someone who could use some representation out there? that being said please feel free to ignore this -theres minus levels of pressure here
Yeah, totally happy to!
“Coding” refers to the action of giving a character traits of a certain type of person, or what are understood in the mainstream as associated with that type of person. As such, characters who are CSA survivor-coded are characters that have experiences that are similar to survivors, or whose experiences could be understood as an allegory.
CSA survivor-coded characters often:
Have themes of a loss of or lack of bodily autonomy (especially when this expands to having their body possessed by an adult with villainous intent)
Lose a part of their body or themselves
Have difficult relationships with their body, romance, sex, and/or touch
But this is not all the traits that may indicate a CSA survivor-coded character, and it depends largely on context.
I think the character that comes to mind for me as an example of CSA survivor-coded that you’re most likely to know is Sayaka Miki from Puella Magi: Madoka Magica.
Sayaka makes a wish for the sake of the boy she loves, Kyousuke, being happy, so she becomes a magical girl. (Her story is related to romance.)
However, in doing this, she doesn’t realize that she has given up her soul to be put into her soul gem — her body is now an empty shell. This realization brings her deep horror and despair. (Lack of bodily autonomy, loses a part of herself, difficult relationship with her body.)
She learns that Kyousuke began dating her friend, which, although it hurts her, she says she understands, because nobody could love a girl that is essentially a “living zombie”. (A common sentiment among CSA victims.)
The final tipping point before Sayaka succumbs to despair completely is hearing a misogynistic jackass rant about how much he hates his girlfriend. Additionally, much of Madoka Magica’s story in general is about how much suffering young girls have to go through at the hands of misogyny. (Very relevant themes for discussion of sexual abuse among young girls.)
Some more examples of CSA survivor-coded characters include Noelle and Kris from Deltarune, Hunter from The Owl House, and Thistle and Mithrun from Dungeon Meshi. I can expand on any of these examples if you’d like!
