Symptom of Rape Culture?

[akashathekitty]

I'd really like as many as possible to comment on this, if you have the time/inclinations/a lot of feelings, okay?

It's about this story of mine. It's also available here if you aren't a member of H&V. In the Darkness, All Cats are Grey.

I just received a PM about that fic. Rather than summarize it, I will copy it in its entirety, leaving out who

Comments

[akashathekitty]

In short, you don't make Draco much of an asshole when it comes to his interaction with Hermione except for the issue of his not caring that she doesn't know it's him, and that's made to feel like such a minor thing in comparison. I think that may have been what bothered me most. It's like, "Aw, Draco's so considerate, he's always secretly wanted Hermione, and he's giving her more pleasure than Ron, her boyfriend."

That's valuable information. I don't condone Draco's behaviour or even his ideas about Ron's skills, but he is an unreliable narrator and I may have assumed too much from the reader in the "of course he's an asshole, duh! He's Draco Malfoy!" respect. The fact that he's concerned with hurting her physically is actually rather ironic when coupled with how he easily convinces himself that it's all right to trick her into having sex with him.

I don't agree that everyone perpetuates rape culture

Okay, I'll grant that not every individual does, but far too many people think it's perfectly fine to be concerned with how women dress "because they could be raped" and that's a prime example of rape culture right there. :/

[eevilalice]

I mean, it's amazing how likable you make Draco in the story and in this situation! I think that's part of why the story is so well-liked and why no one's raised the issue before now.

[akashathekitty]

Like I said in another comment, fandom allows some stupid shit to fly at times and that's why discussions like these are valuable. I'm not sure I would actually have written Draco much differently, but I could have made sure to disclaim better. And also have reconsidered some of the subtleties in the story.