Today's rant: Rape fics. No, I'm not going to go off on how horrible they are or how perverted it is that they exist and yada, yada, yada. I've got a few years on my time card, you see, so I understand the psychology behind them. I understand that being raped is a common female fantasy. I understand the classic "rape victim healed by the Power of Real Love" story and why it appeals to, especially, female readers; it's an archetype, almost. It's classic, it's not going to go away, and I don't feel a need to expound on it, really.

What I AM going to expound upon is the usual (and stereotypical) depiction in fanfic of a person, of whatever species or gender, who's been raped. I speak from experience here; as some of you may know, it happened to me, although the circumstances were strange. I've also done volunteer work, talking to and offering support to other victims of rape (of both sexes, mind you; it doesn't just happen to women, although it is far more common). But you see, not every reaction to rape is the same. Yet, if you read rape fics, you'll think that there is only one possible reaction: Complete psychological trauma, plus fear of being touched by anyone in any way that could remotely be conceived of as intimate. Someone touches them, they panic. They either run away in terror or lash out in anger, or whatever their reaction to panic is.

And yes, that does happen. But it is not the only possible reaction. In fact, I wouldn't even say that it's the most common one, and when it does happen, that particular reaction doesn't usually linger forever. Usually, it's the immediate reaction, but it fades over time. Or rather, if not dealt with, it simply mutates into some other, more entrenched, defense mechanism.

So, not everyone who is raped is traumatized and emotionally shattered by the experience. For instance:

1) Some people handle it perfectly well, thankyouverymuch, and simply move on with their lives. Yes, they do.

2) Some assimilate the experience and use it to counsel and coach others who experience it; it becomes therapy for both parties. This is what I did, in small ways.

3) Some people become not fearful and traumatized, but downright angry. Utterly pissed off. Sometimes, they use the anger destructively, spewing hate and venom against all members of the gender who violated them rather than at just the individual(s) who actually did the deed. (I did this, too.) Or sometimes they turn their anger inward upon themselves, which is often worse. Self-hurt and self-mutilation is a very common response in this case. But sometimes, they use their anger very constructively. Oftentimes, pissed-off rape survivors become advocates. Very vocal, in-your-face ones. They become the kind of advocates who create real change in laws and in awareness of the issue.

4) Then there are the really surprising ones: I was once acquainted with a woman who, not very long at all after being raped, decided that she was going to work with convicted rapists in jails. She had a psychology degree, had a lucrative private psychology practice. She chucked it all, lived on her savings, and decided that she was going to solely counsel convicted rapists in the hope that they would overcome their issues and not rape again once released, and she had a good deal of success. So, she credited being raped with helping her to find her life's work. True story.

5) Contrary to the stereotypical, "Oh my God, I've been raped, now no one can touch me or I'll totally freeeeeeeak!" kind of victim, some rape victims actually become VERY promiscuous. Something happens in their mind that makes them see that rape is not about sex but about power, about dominance. Since they were once in the powerless position, they turn around and use sex to become powerful in the very same way that they were once powerless. Power is addictive. It's why rapists rape in the first place. People who've been raped sometimes feel a deep need to experience something of the other side of the coin, if only so that, so they think, they'll never be in the powerless position again. Sometimes, they become predators, users of other people for their power fix. Sometimes, they become rapists themselves.

And these are just some examples. People who've experienced rape all react differently. And really, that's my rant. Rape fics, no matter what fandom they're based in, all seem to be the same. The same stereotypical victim who's "rescued" by his/her hero, who helps him/her overcome their trauma and resulting hang-ups and such and then they Live Happily Ever After. Like I said, I understand the romantic psychology behind the phenomenon. I do. I just wish that there were more stories out there that were...well...different. More realistic, I guess. Maybe I'll write one. I kind of touched on the issue here and there in "Redemption," but that wasn't really the focus. So, hmmmm...