Morals are gone
Everytime I want to enjoy a GL/BL comic, I have to stop myself and see other peoples comment.
Because sexual assault or rape is a sensitive topic, I want everybody to know that it isn't a light situation to experience. It can happen to anyone, in any sex, and ages. Sexual assaults can leave the victim a psychological trauma that may last throughout their lifetime, that's why reaching out for help is also as important as you.
But I swear to god, there is an alarming rise of comics with topics such as sexual assault done by an MC, and an author or their fanbase justify it through a "redemption arc." There is nothing to redeem if you have done shitty things to a person already, leaving trauma with them.
"But this is fiction, it doesn't affect real life!"
It does, and let me tell you why: people are influenced by fiction. Fictions can sometimes blur the lines of reality and be perceived as something truthful to an individual.
On the study of the line between reality and fiction, Gretter, Yadav, and Gleason stated that, "It is important to recognize that, even if imaginary, fiction plays an essential role in the cognitive and affective processes that influence the way we learn (Applebee 1978)."
If an author wants to bring awareness of sexual assault and their victims, please do not justify the perpetrator's actions. The more you justify, the more you imply that through a redemption arc, victims are supposed to forgive them for such a traumatic event. Talk about these topic with a lot of thought and preparedness, be empathetic towards your characters, even if they're not real. Fiction can manifest through reality.
Work Cited:
Gretter, S., Yadav, A., & Gleason, B. (2017). Walking the line between reality and fiction in online ... U.S. Department of Education.
https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1151032.pdf
