“RAPE, TEN THINGS TO DO ABOUT IT, like it was ten new hairdos or something.”
The desensitization of sexual assault is promptly addressed by Margaret Atwood’s short story “Rape Fantasies.” The magazine article that the women are reading in and the title alone demonstrates how society creates rape to be this romanticized and skewed act. Indeed, the story, despite being short, deeply examines the various psychological impacts of rape culture among women. This in turn, provides us with a clear and quite disturbing glimpse into the consequences of acquiesce to violence.
In particular we are treated to the intimate, unsettling details of the protagonist, Estelle’s, confusion about sexual assault. From the beginning of the story, Estelle makes an …show more content…
Atwood places Estelle in a bar, to emphasize her susceptibility by taking a risk and going alone against social standards. Furthermore, she states “the waiters all know me and if anyone, you know, bothers me. I don’t know why I’m telling you all this.” This line indicates that not only is she directly speaking with a man who causes her to feel threatened, but trying to dissuade his potential intentions. Estelle is unprepared in a real world scenario where it is impossible to predict and prevent the actions of others. Women have been trained to feel as if they are responsible for being victims in a world where justifications are freely given to the oppressor. In conclusion, not only are women desensitized by society, but also deliberately seem to want to desensitize them selves even to the point of shaming one another. Unfortunately females have no other option, either submit or rebel. After following all the guidelines society had implemented to keep women safe from rape, Estelle recognizes that despite all the conversation and effort to cultivate a relationship, rape cannot be readily prevented with a ten-step
The desensitization of sexual assault is promptly addressed by Margaret Atwood’s short story “Rape Fantasies.” The magazine article that the women are reading in and the title alone demonstrates how society creates rape to be this romanticized and skewed act. Indeed, the story, despite being short, deeply examines the various psychological impacts of rape culture among women. This in turn, provides us with a clear and quite disturbing glimpse into the consequences of acquiesce to violence.
In particular we are treated to the intimate, unsettling details of the protagonist, Estelle’s, confusion about sexual assault. From the beginning of the story, Estelle makes an …show more content…
Atwood places Estelle in a bar, to emphasize her susceptibility by taking a risk and going alone against social standards. Furthermore, she states “the waiters all know me and if anyone, you know, bothers me. I don’t know why I’m telling you all this.” This line indicates that not only is she directly speaking with a man who causes her to feel threatened, but trying to dissuade his potential intentions. Estelle is unprepared in a real world scenario where it is impossible to predict and prevent the actions of others. Women have been trained to feel as if they are responsible for being victims in a world where justifications are freely given to the oppressor. In conclusion, not only are women desensitized by society, but also deliberately seem to want to desensitize them selves even to the point of shaming one another. Unfortunately females have no other option, either submit or rebel. After following all the guidelines society had implemented to keep women safe from rape, Estelle recognizes that despite all the conversation and effort to cultivate a relationship, rape cannot be readily prevented with a ten-step