Make 'em, to Break 'em

***Warning***: This post will include accounts of rape and sexual assault. This could be triggering for some people. 

Rape culture is something that continues to grow, and grow with each passing year. Almost to the point where it seems acceptable. To the point that we can sense where the scene is heading. To the point where we expect it. 

The idea of rape seems to be a common reoccurrence on how to break superheroes. It can be the superhero herself (himself as well), or it can be attacking a superhero by going after their loved one with the intent of rape. For some bizarre reason, writer seem to have their mind wrapped around the idea that the only way to break a woman, is to rape them. It is the ultimate, go to plot change.

What’s sad is that when you type in “rape in comics” into Google, you can easily find a list of victims.

*Arella
*Artemis
*Bleez
*Grace Choi
*Harriet Arkam
*Hippolyta
*Lady Flash
*Starfire
*Mirage
*Sue Dibny
*Silk Spectre
*Windfall

This list is limited to female characters from DC comics alone. This list does not include rapes that have been either “attempted” or “implied,” but never confirmed.
 

One of the most controversial rape scenes in the comic book world, is the rape of Katie Deauxma, and how it would play out in the Kick-Ass 2 film adaptation.

In relation to the comic, here is the author’s (Mark Miller's) response:

Miller: “The ultimate [act] that would be the taboo, to show how bad some villain is, was to have somebody being raped, you know? I don’t really think it matters. It’s the same as, like, a decapitation. It’s just a horrible act to show that somebody’s a bad guy.”

(Me: Face-palm)

Laura Hudson: “There’s one and only one reason that happens, and it’s to piss off the male character,” she said. “It’s using a trauma you don’t understand in a way whose implications you can’t understand, and then talking about it as though you’re doing the same thing as having someone’s head explode. You’re not. Those two things are not equivalent, and if you don’t understand, you shouldn’t be writing rape scenes.”

(Me: Woohoo! Well said, Ms. Hudson! Someone give this woman a giant cookie, and a pat on the back!)

Miller: “I think it’s meaningless. A tiny storm in a tea-cup. And in ten years time I’ll copy and paste this again when the argument raises it’s head like it did a decade ago. The fact is that more women are reading comics right now than at any point in my life and they’re not picking them up because they feel they’re demeaning in any way.”

(Me: I... I can’t even. It’s not even worth it.)

And, now the director’s (Christopher Minzt-Plasse's) response:

Mintz-Plasse: “I love really, really dark things like if there’s a rape scene it’s gotta be a dark movie it can’t be—I just didn’t think it would fit for this movie cause you’re watching it and it’s so colorful and fun and violent and you’re laughing, you’re getting excited and I don’t think a rape scene fits that vibe. In the comic—Jeff sets it right—in the comic they are not real people so you can put a rape in there and you’re not like feeling emotion towards it it’s just people on a piece of paper--

(Me: Whoa, whoa, I'm sorry, says who?! You?!)

"But in a movie when you have real tangible people playing these parts it gets deep and it gets heavier on a bigger scale. I just don’t think a rape scene was needed. You know in the movie “Irreversible”—have you ever seen that?

“How crazy is that [movie]? But that movie CAN have a rape scene cause it’s so fucking twisted and dark; a movie like ‘Kick-Ass 2′… I just don’t think a rape scene was needed.”

(Me: Oh, so you like dark things? You think it's okay in the right kind of dark movie? Well lets see what you think when you're cornered in a 'dark' alley, and someone decides to shove something up your--)

So as you can see people, rape is dark, and given the right scenarios, it’s fine. Especially since they’re just comics. Great. Well said, boys. Well said. 

NOT!

I’m a girl, and I’m not even going to pretend like I have any idea what it’s like to be a boy, but seriously? Seriously?! COME ON, PEOPLE! I’m all for character development, but I can say, for a fact, there are a thousand other ways to break a girl without having to turn to assault. Quite frankly, in this day in age, and alternative could be quite refreshing!

And another thing! So many writers seem to be under the impression that they can use attempted rape for only half the hassle. They get the point across, damage her, create a cause for vengeance, and the fact that she’s not actually raped, means less drama, no after effects, lets move a long with the story.

You know, because an attempt isn’t traumatizing. Nope. Not. At. All.

*Please note the intended sarcasm

And the worst part, somehow you know that this will all come back to victim blaming again. You know, because of all the revealing outfits these girls prance around in.             

Well, first off, an outfit is by no means an invitation. EVER. And secondly, if the outfit is the problem, then whose fault is it for putting her in that particular get up in the first place?! Just saying.

This reoccuring theme, unfortuntunately doesn’t limit itself to just comic books. It has always been present in the media, in literature. However, the problem is, it’s becoming something that’s more and more common. It's becoming a commonplace. It’s spreading and can be found in shows, literature, to the point where it has begun to affect women working behind the scenes. Women working in the comic book industry, for example, are victims of rape threats. You can read more about this in my partner in crime's post, here. 

My fellow geek girls (and guys), let us fight to put an end to this messed up cultural norm. If you ever needed a hate crime worthy of putting on the mask and cape (and you don't even need the ensemble, but it'd still look pretty freaking cool) then now is the time!

~Story