Hi pornies! I hope you are all okay. Today I wanted to talk about something that should be clear but that still generates a bit of debate in certain circles: "positive" rape in porn videos and fiction; by fiction I mean books, comics, manga, and any other kind of content.
Let's begin with Merriam-Webster's definition of rape, just be sure we are all in the same page, shall we?
Unlawful sexual activity and usually sexual intercourse carried out forcibly or under threat of injury against a person's will or with a person who is beneath a certain age or incapable of valid consent because of mental illness, mental deficiency, intoxication, unconsciousness, or deception
There seems to be a trend in some studios and publishers that sell the idea that "it's not rape/doesn't count if you like/liked it". Er, wrong. You can like it in the moment, and then feel bad about it, and I'm not only speaking about sex here, but everything done knowing it's not right. As humans, we all have our weaknesses, our flaws and mistakes, but that doesn't mean we are guilt-free.
The problem with this kind of content, to be specific, is that it normalizes things that should not happen. I have consumed some genres and content that only now I realize were wrong. I'm working on such issues because they romanticize sex in offensive manners and that simply are not right.
I used to think that everyone had the right to enjoy whatever kind of content they would find attractive or interesting. I consume horror novels, for eff's sake, and that doesn't turn me into a serial killer. However, the difference lies in that horror plays with fears, nightmares, taboos, criticizing sociaty and the world in general. The problem begins when the things that cause harm are presented as "good".
This happened with a book I started but had to abandon because it glorified rape and abuse more than only in . Despite the author wrote an introduction specifying that wasn't her intention, one only needs to read the first chapters to notice she's normalizing rape. Unsurprisingly, the novel was banned from Amazon and Smashwords; although she republished it on the second, I'm sure it's just a matter of time before it's kicked out again (let's hope definitely).
What worries the more is that it has a 3.82 of 5 stars in GoodReads, with 21 people rating it with 5 stars. Whatever is wrong with these people? I was horrified to read again and again about a young guy being raped, abused, tortured, thrown into a toxic, abusive, and controlling relationship with a another man who kept using him as a mere piece of meat, and these people found it "hot" and "awesome"? Something's definitely wrong here.
The same happens in porn. Whenever I see something that could hint an abusive relationship, I search for something else. With so much content one click away, why would I consume something that perpetuates one of the most harmful and traumatizing acts someone could experience. I used to think that it's just a matter or educaton and knowing the difference between right and wrong, but after the shock of reading that book I am rethinking many things.
Is there any point in including rape? Absolutely, as long as it is in a responsible manner. The Miller test
seems to be a good standard, not perfect, and by all means not one that should be applied to digital material, but it's a start, I guess. I've read books where the characters overcome abusive relationships and find a cute, fulfilling, sexy one, and books that include shocking scenes the protagonist has to process and heal from.
Life is not always pretty, nice, and cute. It gets hard, horrible, it includes traumas, abuse, harm, and much more. The point here is in showing the public where we stand regarding those topics. I can read a book with detailed descriptions of murder and rape, but will only keep doing it if I'm told those things are wrong, not because I need to, but because I deserve some respect as a consumer, because I don't want to normalize harmful actions through fiction.
I've read about those topics, I know where I stand regarding them, and although I still have some work to do, it's a start. I understand what rape is and why it is wrong to include it as a good thing, and yours truly is not going to be part of that game.
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