28 replies to this topic

[Vicious]

I did read one that just mentioned in passing that naruto was raped when younger, then after team 7 was form, on a mission he finds Sakura after she was raped and it triggered a kinda beserker rage in him after they encounter the rapers of Sakura later. Though I think the story was flamed to death just because it mentioned rape.
Of course look at the stuff on AFF.net and one wonders what the difference in tort fics compare to something that was no worse that A Law and Order on tv

I think I read the one you're talking about, I get pissed off whenever I hear about someone (especially little kids) getting raped, I'm guessing that lots of other people do to. Personally I believe that the person that did the raping should be tortured horribly before being granted an even more gruesome death, I also feel that punishment should stand for anyone who knew of it happening but did not take actions to put a stop to it, but thats just what I think.

Anyways I'm pretty sure I know of the story you're talking about, how where Sakura falls in love with Naruto after the incident?

Edited by Saint Michael, 26 August 2008 - 09:11 PM.

[Illjwamh]

Writing a fic involving rape or anything as horrifying and traumatic as that is generally a bad idea since you'll never be able to capture or even comprehend what the experience is like unless you've gone through it yourself. The result is just cheapening the experience, which is obvious to readers and, I would imagine, upsetting to those who actually have gone through it.

[Vicious]

I think it would be a little more than just upsetting... for those who have actually experienced it.

[Illjwamh]

Lol. I was deliberately understating.

[jim1982]

I think I read the one you're talking about, I get pissed off whenever I hear about someone (especially little kids) getting raped, I'm guessing that lots of other people do to. Personally I believe that the person that did the raping should be tortured horribly before being granted an even more gruesome death, I also feel that punishment should stand for anyone who knew of it happening but did not take actions to put a stop to it, but thats just what I think.

Anyways I'm pretty sure I know of the story you're talking about, how where Sakura falls in love with Naruto after the incident?

yea or least starts to fall for him. though I was annoyed how Kakashi and Sasuke were portreyed.

Well, I think I need to work a little bit on the first test for my story; not too late for it.

So far, Sakura is the only prominent female character from canon that I'm using, although I have plans for the others and I think most of my female OCs are being treated okay. I think most of those things listed in the second test can be used if it will add weight to the story or character interaction, though it's pretty bad if those are the ONLY reasons for them being there. I find 7 and 8 though to be ridiculous.

And since everyone here has become obssesed with the idea of rape in fanfiction, I'll put in my two cents. Raping a major female character does not neccissarily mean it's bad; however, the majority of users can't write it well because they've only heard about such things from other fictions. Sometimes, they do it simply because they hate the victim (meaning of course the writers write about a female character getting raped because they don't like her). Other times, they want to make the story darker and put a pit in the readers stomach, which on paper is fine, but again the execution varies. The main problem is that people want to write about bad things in their stories, but they have never experienced or learned about them from a credible source, and inadvertently cheapen it.

Another problem I sometimes encounter is that they describe the act in detail. All I have to say about that is FOR THE F***ING LOVE OF GOD, DON'T!!! The beginning and aftermath will be bad enough as it is, don't make it worse for us!! Then there's also the fact that they make the victims write it off and just say, "Yeah, it was a bad day". Many of my classmates in high school were victims of sexual assault, and I promise you, you bring it up, and you'll wish at the end the day you did not.

One trend I'm beginning to see in Naruto fanfiction is having Sakura's father rape her. Now, I don't deny that such things happen. And it would certainly be possible in Part 1. But get into Shippuden, don't you think Konoha will hear "SAKURA SMASH!!!" if he tried that? I just find it ridiculous that the average person could rape Part 2 Sakura without drugging her first.

However, there are ones that use it and turn out to be good. I've read a one-shot where Sakura was raped by Itachi, got pregnant with his child, and not only was Naruto just as affected by it as she was, he stood by her and promised to take care of her and her child, emphasizing that he did not care how she got pregnant, and immediately proposed to her afterwards. It was overall pretty moving.

So, I guess I'll give a quick guide for people who are thinking of using rape as an element in their fics:
1) Do NOT show the act. Simply the beginning and end of it is enough to get the message across.

2) No matter who the victim is, they will be scared for life, and even if they recover to lead a productive and happy life, they will NEVER get over it. Keep that in mind.

3) Show how it affects the victims family and friends. The act does not begin and end with the victim.

4) Make how it happens believable. If the victim had superstrength, for instance, the perpetrator better have something to match and trump that.

5) If you must use it, make sure there's a point to it. It's okay if it's to show the bond between the victim and her/his true love, or part of a deeper plot. But, if you have no good reason to add it, don't.

6) Are you familiar with sexual violence in anyway? A victim yourself? A social worker or psychologist? A friend or relative of a victim? If none of these apply, don't bother writing it down.

Very Valid points Kodachi. I generally try to keep away from fics with rape, torture, generally anything like that.

[Vicious]

yea or least starts to fall for him. though I was annoyed how Kakashi and Sasuke were portreyed.

I honestly don't care how characters are shown as long as they give a good understanding of why they are what they are.

[believeit6]

Ahh, yes, the coping with rape issue. Only a few actually get it right, and most still do it very stereotypically. Sakura is a girl that would feel absoulutely horrible if raped; Think about what that would do to her self esteem! Anyway, if you read Speak the character is raped and she decends into darkness for an entire year, cxompletly ruining her life.

On the topic, I always make the female(Sakura) strong, and she is there to be a freind, offer support and complete her own goals.

Edited by believeit6, 14 December 2008 - 02:35 AM.

[Broken Figurine]

Female characters are always criticized more than their male companions from what I've seen, so I think writing a female character takes more than this test but it's a good checklist to avoid cliches. Girls are human too, we are not just there to further male angst or as some romance plot-device. Keepig in mind that these characters should be realistic regardless of gender helps create depth. They have their strengths and weaknesses, their purpose and their motives. Primary female characters should, like any main character, have a definite purpose to the story instead of being a side-kick. How do they contribute? Are they important? Would the story be substantially different without them not just in the romance department? Are they unique and influential enough to be unreplaceable?

The secondary female characters who are not as important to the plot (like Hinata, Tenten, and Temari to a lesser extent) should have some personality and standing on their own. I don't think Kishimoto is sexist because he doesn't give his female characters a bad rep. Yes, they take a back-seat to the guys but they are not weak-willed or just their to further promote the male... Well, on a personal note that would be Hinata and Karin to me but that's my own bias. Just because they don't appear enough does not exactly mean they are poor characters. I can understand that Kishimoto does not do as well with his female characters as he does with his male characters but he does well enough that they are acceptable and likable in most cases... (Again, bias XD)

In some fanfics the tone of the females is unanimous despite varying strengths, personalities, and author-favourites. Every character is thinking of hooking up somehow with a male. Even when romance is not a central focus it's apparent. We have action, action, more action and dialogue with male characters and then Boom! Sakura is thinking about Sasuke or Naruto. This is fine, but when it also happens to Hinata, then Ino, then the girls start talking about it and eventually it gets too much.