The harm in absolutes on rape: an add-on to Netflix’s Bridgerton debate

Anybody can be an oppressor and no one is most likely to be

Bridgerton, Season 1 Episode 8 | Image Courtesy of Netflix, citation according to fair use

In the past days, I’ve read a lot of stories about Netflix's Bridgerton, the historical drama produced by Shonda Rhimes. Most articles talked about a specific sex-scene, which glossed-over a rape.

I advise you to read Tara Blair Ball’s thoughts. To me, it is a clear and concise piece on the topic. Three stories on the topic appeared in my home today, including the analysis by Yia Vue on An Injustice. Then came North Black’s “unpopular opinion” on how Women Can’t Rape Men on Illumination. Admitting to have not seen the series, the author explains under a click-bait title two of her beliefs:
1. rape is always about some form of power;
2. as a woman the situation of outpowering a man is less often met.
It culminates in finding an example of a woman rapist in a semi-colonialist situation.

I have no interest in dissing and I enjoy North's writing. Yet, reading that story honestly got me mad. I wanted to bump my head against my keyboard, hoping it wouldn’t result in accidental cursing. And it itched me to write a couple of thoughts on why the absolutization of personal opinions on rape is a slippery slope.