Thursday 3 October 2013

Fetishisation of Sexual Trauma.

[TW: Sexual abuse]

As if Glee wasn't bad enough, can we just talk about the issue of molestation for a moment? In an episode last season when characters were opening up Ryder confessed that he had been molested as a child. Knowing Glee this will probably be the only time this news comes up and it's most likely for thrills, to throw something shocking into the mix to seem oh so edgy.

Men who suffer sexual abuse often are left feeling emasculated and uncomfortable. Glee, however, applies the ultimate male privilege. As Ryder confesses to having been sexually abused the other guys around him scoff saying that it sounds like a situation they'd welcome. This rubs salt in the wound of anyone watching who has endured through sexual abuse, molestation and any form of sexual trauma.

Kitty confessed later that she had been molested and slut shamed so badly that she had to change schools. I felt that this could have been explored a lot more. However I'm utterly appalled and disgusted that Glee chose to sexualise a moment of childhood sexual trauma.

Someone sits there and writes these scripts and doesn't apply a damn shred of common sense.