Lauvil's manga / #Attempted rape(5)

In the beginning, I really liked this story. It had angst and sexual tension, which I'm a sucker for. Our FL has PTSD. She's been a slave, attempted raped multiple times, she doesn't know the language of the world she's in, she's lost friends, and now she's alone. Our ML is a lone wolf, after he committed the crime of murdering a Bishop (with good reason, though) and has been expelled from the paladin order he was a part of. He's in a dark place too, yet he can't forsake his own noble/honourable nature and gives in and takes the FL under his wing, when she clings onto him after he saved her. The story itself seemed a bit over the top (with all the rape attempts) but it had potential for a lot of drama. However... Right now I'll have to put it on hold. The past two chapters have been brain-meltingly stupid. How she had the thought "maybe this is just an Inn. He seems honourable and he's been treating me well so far", yet still goes back to the conclusion that he's trying to sell her, is beyond me. Her actions, as well, make no sense. She could've just opened the door and run out, but instead she decides to assault her "captor". She's not even sure, and is having doubts to whether or not he has malicious intent. And if he did, the option of assaulting him seems way more risky than just running away while he's distracted. Wtf. Also, if she's so hellbent on the idea that he is trying to harm her, why would she still want to follow him and cling onto him when he leaves the room? Like, author please. At least have your characters be consistent. I just don't know where this is going, and whether it'll get any better, or if it will be a gigantic waste of time to continue it...

There are way too many details and plot points in this story that makes me uncomfortable. Mainly things that reek of interlised mysogyny. One is the trope of a beautiful, but weak girl, who needs a man so rescue her all the time. Another is the clear implication that rape is not about violating a woman's right to bodily autonomy and integrity, but about her and her family's honour, which is why the bad guys try to rape Mei to hurt Kou. It's bullshit though. The idea that raping a woman could somehow hurt her family or lover, more than it would hurt her, is archaic and misguided. In general the story feels like it was written by a man. The way the MC's body was posed and exposed to please the male gaze in ch.1, and the thoughts she had about herself and her body, just felt so charicaturized and cringy.

I have mixed feelings about this one... Kuroe is an ordinary office worker. 4 years ago she made a big contribution to the company and was rewarded with a promotion to manager, much to her co-workers' dismay. Since then they have been harassing her out of jealousy, the harassment varying from petty insults to obstruction and sabotaging her work. The only person in the company who is always nice to her, is another manager named Wagu. His kind behaviour and the consideration he shows her, has caused her to fall in love with him. A fact that she keeps to herself, though. One day, Kuroe goes to sleep as usual but, to her confusion and surprise, wakes up in fantasy world. As she has never dreamed before, and because all the characters in the dream are all co-workers, she concludes that the world is a dream-world she has made up to escape her grueling reality. In this dream, though, Wagu-san is the future king and Kuroe is his fiancée and they are up to some naughty business. However, Wagu is not the only one who wants to get into her pants in this world, for it has a strange rule: Whoever manages to have intercourse with the fiancée of the next king, may become the new candidate for king. (Talk about encouraging rape, here). This causes Kuroe to have some unpleasant experiences, as well as her doubting her fiancé's feelings. While I enjoy the premise of the story - Kuroe waking up in another world when she goes to sleep, the dream-world reflecting circumstances of the real world, and what this all means for the MC - there are a few things that really make me wince. First of all, the weird rule that "sleeping with the fiancée of the next king will make you the next king". The rule itself defies logic. Like, who would ever think it's a good idea to select the next ruler of a country based on such a flimsy premise? Might as well just draw lots from a hat, because who knows what kind of person you'll end up putting on the throne? Actually, drawing lots might be better - at least then there's a chance the next ruler won't be a fucking rapist. Of course, that's not the main issue I have with this premise. The issue is that it sets the stage for a rape-attempt to occur at any given moment and I fear it will be a regular occurrence further into the story. The solution to the problem has also already been established, which is to restrict the movements of the FL. Though that method has been used in our culture for centuries (and still is today), the logic is completely backwards. Instead of preventing the perpetrator from committing a crime, they want to prevent the victim from becoming one. That's the kind of mindset that results in victim-blaming, which is exactly what we see in this story; Wagu who becomes mad at Kuroe for 'putting herself" in a situation where she could be raped, rather than offering her comfort after she had a terrifying experience. I'm also not a big fan of the ML. He's way to pushy and inconsiderate. The first time we meet "dream"-Wagu, he and Kuroe are in bed together and about to do something naughty. Kuroe voices several protests, all of which are ignored or disregared by Wagu. Finally, when her protests become too many, he resorts to emotional manipulation - pouting and questioning her affection - to get what he wants. At one point he even pins her arms down above her head, and though Kuroe didn't react with terror, I did. I know it's a common trope in smut-manga, but I just wish we could have more male protagonists who understood what consent is...