Stop Using Sexual Assault/Rape As Character Development!

How many times have you read a young adult novel in which the main character, male or female, is trapped in a scenario that involves them fighting somebody off them or away from them sexually? Off the top of your head, you probably can't name any, and yet I am willing to bet that you've read a scene exactly like that. Somebody being pressured into a situation they don't want to be in. Somebody being 'convinced' that what one person wants, they want too. Somebody having to forcibly shout, scream and beg for somebody to stop what they think is acceptable. I've read scenes like these one too many times - it's about time we asked:

Why is sexual assault and rape being used in young adult fiction as 'development'?

Is this really the message we want to send to young readers? That, in order to make it anywhere in life, you have to have been through something horrific and live changing and get through it, develop into somebody different, somebody better, to get somewhere? This message is so so wrong and it breaks my heart and angers me to have to read about these poor characters going through experiences they should never have to.

Let Me Tell You A Story..

When I was 13, I was in a relationship with a guy I really liked, and he was one of the sweetest, most considerate, most, appreciative people I knew. He never once rushed me into anything, nor did he ever pressure me into anything I didn't want. He even asked for permission to kiss me on the roadside while I waited for my lift home, which ended up being our first kiss. His friend however wasn't quite as nice.

I'll set the scene.

Four 13 year old kids, myself and three other 'friends', unsupervised in a house. Two of my 'friends' that made up a couple where upstairs, doing what one could only be as blunt as saying 'underage activities', and my aforementioned sweet boyfriend had gone home for the day. I was left downstairs, alone, with a boy I'd briefly called my boyfriend, although nothing more than holding hands and a valentines card had ever been exchanged between us during out period of 'dating'.

He was also my boyfriends best friend.

Within the time period we were left alone, I was pressured to perform sexual activities on this 'best friend' of my boyfriend after explicitly saying no, explaining that I was with somebody else, telling him I did not want to do anything with him, activities I did not want to take part in with him, activities that I didn't understand. I was pressured to comply, or else my boyfriend would be made aware of what had happened. I was held beneath him, trapped by him and stuck in what I can only describe as one of the most horrifying experiences of my life, an experience that has stayed embedded in my memory ever since.

I, of course, being the honest and truthful girlfriend that I was, told these other friends and that sweet, considerate and appreciative boyfriend what had happened. The result?

• I'd cheated on my boyfriend with his best friend.
• I'd been a slut.
• I had thrown myself at this 'friend' and then tried to lie and shift blame.
• I should have stopped him.

I was branded a liar, a cheat, and easy.
I never told anyone else about the experience.
Not my parents, not other friends, nobody.
Until today.

What I didn't understand all those years ago is that I was a victim. Only now though can I see this more clearly than ever, and it's all thanks to young adult contemporary novels. I only wish I meant that more positively..

Love Bomb by Jenny McLachlan is one of these young adult contemporary novels featuring similar experiences to what I had endured, and I talked briefly about it in my review, but I want to talk about it more, because it seriously needs to be highlighted. One of the scenes involves the main character and her 'love interest' heading into a bedroom, a room that the main character is shown to be uncomfortable being in, and then later, encouraged to sit on his bed. This could quite easily be a show of nerves, but later actions, taking kissing and touching too far, affecting her confidence and comfort, actions that, as is stated during the writing, the main character doesn't want happening to her, are shrugged off as being a learning curve of the teenage years. Not only that, but the main character is made to feel as though the experience was her fault, that she'd done wrong, that she'd disappointed said 'love interest', implying that she should have been more open about the experience, and never actually speaks to anyone about the whole experience. The 'love interest' in question is never punished for his actions.

We Are All Made of Molecules by Susin Nielsen also touches upon similar experiences, although these are taken into a much harsher light and are, in some ways, taken note of a explored in more depth, but are not anywhere near sorted or closed cases. The main female character is first told that her 'boyfriends' parents will be in when plans are made to meet at 'love interest' house, and then later told upon arrival that they are not there, which later turns in 'love interest' encouraging alcohol toward female main character and trying to encourage her to embark in activities she makes clear she doesn't wish to be involved in. Words such as 'no' and 'stop' are used frequently, and female character later questions whether 'love interest' apology was for the actions, or that he couldn't continue with them. Later, said female main character is plied with more alcohol at a party with 'love interest' who has already proven his asshole-ness around her, and is taken into bed with not one, but TWO males who are clearly nowhere near as intoxicated as the main character and proceed to determine whether she is suitably aware of her surroundings enough to take part in any sexual activities with her. When it becomes clear that she is not, they proceed to attempt to undress her, take photographic evidence and then leave her unattended, vulnerable and almost unconscious. The female main character does, eventually speak to people about the experience, and while legal proceedings almost take place, lack of evidence proves to be a standing factor and the accusations are dropped. Public people of power, both in a school and legal environment are made aware of these actions, yet the 'love interest' is never punished for his actions, despite witness accounts.

These moments and scenes taken out of the novels in questions speak volumes when pinpointed and separated from the rest of the novel in question, and yet, when left among the rest of it's novel, are easily dismissed as a plot device, or as a way for a character to develop, or for a relationship not to occur, rather than be delved into in a much deeper, much more important manner. Jamie previously asked whether it's the authors responsibility to make sure that important topics are given the right message in fiction, and in this case, I say yes. Yes it is.

You can not feature rape or sexual assault in young adult novels and not make clear that these actions are wrong and illegal. You can not bring up these moments and not make clear that it's not just a part of growing up and learning more about yourself. You can not and should not shrug of these types of abuse because they are so so wrong, and by doing so, you're creating the wrong impression of the subject, and creating more victims. These 'love interests' were never punished and were allowed to be involved in the victims life with no consideration for how it might have affected them further down the line, anything from their trust and emotional levels with other people, to their confidence and comfortableness in society, to serious mental issues due to trauma of the event. You can't write about these subjects and not call it out on what it is. It's disgusting. It's shocking. It's rape..

How Do You Feel About the Use of Sexual Assault and Rape in Fiction?