SPOILER ALERT!

I'm lost for words

Having not long ago finished Asking For It by Louise O'Neill, a book about rape culture and the way in which community (and the victim themselves) often think it's the victims fault, I can't believe what I've just read. You're all book people, so you'll know what I'm talking about.

 

In this book (it's an unpublished book that I'm beta reading) this girl is getting it on with a guy she's kissed and had a thing for for a while. Anyway, while they're kissing, even though it seems like she's into it she wants to stop. Fair enough, I thought. She's allowed to change her mind. In her head though, she thinks she's being a tease. What!? A woman is not a tease for changing her mind! So, she says to the guy that she isn't sure she wants to continue. He then says, 'I'm not going to force you, I like you.' Again, I'm going, what?????? So if he didn't like the girl he was kissing he would force her? This is very dangerous stuff to be saying. Impressionable people may decide to pick up this book. Are they then going to think they have to have sex just because they kiss and may be judged as a tease if they change their mind? This is dangerous and I'm morally outraged right now. I've left a comment for the writer saying exactly what I think. I just hope she listens.