Feminism and Literature: Tough Topics

[trigger warning]

“But if she were in an abusive relationship, she would have called the police, right?”

Or wait, maybe it's: “Why did she drop the charges if he really raped her?”

There are a lot of reasons why women (and men) who have been abused or assaulted don't speak out or press charges. Our culture of victim-blaming isn't exactly conducive to sympathy. But beyond that, they may feel ashamed or afraid. They may be too young to properly understand the situation. They may still be in the relationship, with their abuser threatening them or making them think no one will believe them. They may feel that their most intimate details shouldn't be shared. They may be concerned about making their marginalized group (minorities or LGBT folks, for example) look bad. And of course, testimonies can get retracted after attacks on the victim's character or threats from the perpetrator's allies.

What does this mean for literature? Well, odds are that everyone reading this knows at least one person whose life has been affected by sexual assault or domestic violence. No one wants to ask about this very personal topic, and even fewer want to discuss the details of their experience. But no matter how private or none-of-my-business we believe domestic violence and sexual assault to be, the truth is, we should all be aware of these situations. We need to understand assault and abuse so we can work toward ending them. What would a world without violence or coercion look like? How can we create that world?

One way to learn more is to read. Studying statistics and combing over research can be dry reading that is easily forgettable. However, in the hands of the right author, a memoir or piece of fiction can illuminate a situation and make it oh so memorable- perhaps a little too memorable for folks who have undergone a similar experience. But for friends, family, and other support people, below is a very short list of books dealing with rape, incest, and abuse. Perhaps one of these fictional accounts mirrors a situation we've encountered in real life and can help us begin to comprehend what our loved one is going through. Read one, read all, or suggest more in the comments section.

Bastard Out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison- Ruth Ann “Bone” Boatwright is born to an unwed, 15-year-old mother who is constantly struggling to make ends meet. Her mother marries "Daddy Glen", and soon Bone's stepfather is physically and sexually abusing her. Based on Dorothy Allison's real-life experiences, Bastard Out of Carolina examines age, gender and social class as factors in abusive situations.

The Color Purple by Alice Walker- This Pulitzer Prize winner tells the story of a poor, black woman in 1930s Georgia. Celie writes letters from the age of 14 on, describing first incest, then her forced marriage to an abusive man. A very well-written but very explicit book.

My Year of Meats by Ruth Ozeki- One woman, Jane Takagi-Little, deals with stereotypes of women while making television shows for the meat industry. Another, Akiko Ueno, watches the finished products while attempting to dodge abuse from her husband. The book focuses on women's issues and on the imperfections of the meat industry, and somehow manages to tie them together.

The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros- Esperanza (meaning “hope”) tells us tales of trapped women in a series of vignettes about her poor, hispanic neighborhood. One friend is abused by her father; Esperanza herself is assaulted by a group. She vows to get out of her neighborhood, but to return to help those left behind.