sexualized violence Re: Which characters knew DD was Gay?

[susanmcgee48176]

No: HPFGUIDX 179285

> > Shelley:
> > When I read the attack on Ariana, I didn't think that she was
> > attacked because she was a witch.  --<snip>--
> > Nah, instead, I think because it was BOYS attacking a
> > GIRL that it was more akin to gang rape.
> >
> Montavilla47:
> That certainly is a pervasive view, isn't it?  I can't say that it
> didn't cross my mind when I read the book.  But I'm not sure that
> we can make that assumption--given the age of the participants.
>
> <snip, snip>
> I wonder if the number of sexually violent episodes in the
> books is simply a reflection of how common sexual violence
> is in Western culture nowadays?  Or is it that we're projecting
> these images onto the story because we're conditioned to
> think that way?
>
>
> Montavilla47
> Astounded that she's used the R-word so many times in a
> single post.

Susan:

Goodness, sexualized violence is incredibly common in the RW, and in
literature in Western culture.

Re: boys age....
Rape isn't just forced intercourse (sorry, but this is HP for
Grownups). Many perpetrators of sexualized violence have themselves
been sexually abused. If even one of the boys had himself been
sexually abused he would have known enough to show the others how
to perpetratrate sexual violence. We're unfortunately seeing younger
and younger children perpetrating sexual violence on children younger
and less powerful than themselves.

I did not jump to that conclusion -- that Ariana was raped --
probably because I didn't want to...I think it's a possible
interpretation...I assumed she had a traumatic experience (which
could have been a vicious physical beating)..and let it go. In
support of the rape theory is Dad's reaction.....it's what everyone
thinks they would do if their child were sexually assaulted (I say
thinks because although parents' violent or physical revenge does
occur it's not that common. Lots of parents don't want to compound
the trauma inflicted by having a parent go to prison...the child is
dealing with enough junk and needs all the adult help they can get.)

I didn't want to think about Umbridge being raped by the
centaurs...because I totally believe that no one deserves to be
raped  (like DD who went to rescue her)...and didn't want to think
of that happening EVEN to someone like Umbridge...but again, it's a
valid interpretation.

Susan