I was assaulted by another girl in my girl scout troop when I was 8. Since then, I’ve had such a hard time with trying to figure out myself and how I feel attracted to women. When I came out as bisexual in my teens, I wondered if it was because of that. When I transitioned in my 20s, I wondered if part of it was because I could handle being a trans man who likes women better than being misidentified as a lesbian.
All this to say, I feel incredibly seen and represented in these last few pages, and you’ve articulated the struggle I’ve felt all these years in a very compelling way. Thank you.
I will not go into details here, but… Yeah. SA really does mess with one’s sense of self so much. And back in the 90s and Aughts was that big last hurrah of homophobia where authority figures would leap to use any “evidence” possible against attempts at exploring your identification. Always moving the goal posts too. If you hadn’t any sexual experience, they’ll say “you just haven’t tried it yet”; if you had but didn’t like it, “you just weren’t with the right person yet”; and if it was assault, “your experiences are just clouding your judgment”. You really couldn’t win.
All of this (including the comments) just tends to reinforce a vow I made when I was 12: Sex just seems to make people unhappy and messed up, and I want nothing to do with it.
Then in my 20s, 30s, 40s, the usual forces pressured me to try to make it work anyway.
Now I’m in my 60s and I’m back to my original opinion.
Thank you for this comic. It’s painful to read at times but so real.
sexual assault, especially csa, is so hard to live with. it really changes you, and you’re doing a great job portraying that
also jenna looks so pretty this page!!
I was assaulted by another girl in my girl scout troop when I was 8. Since then, I’ve had such a hard time with trying to figure out myself and how I feel attracted to women. When I came out as bisexual in my teens, I wondered if it was because of that. When I transitioned in my 20s, I wondered if part of it was because I could handle being a trans man who likes women better than being misidentified as a lesbian.
All this to say, I feel incredibly seen and represented in these last few pages, and you’ve articulated the struggle I’ve felt all these years in a very compelling way. Thank you.
I will not go into details here, but… Yeah. SA really does mess with one’s sense of self so much. And back in the 90s and Aughts was that big last hurrah of homophobia where authority figures would leap to use any “evidence” possible against attempts at exploring your identification. Always moving the goal posts too. If you hadn’t any sexual experience, they’ll say “you just haven’t tried it yet”; if you had but didn’t like it, “you just weren’t with the right person yet”; and if it was assault, “your experiences are just clouding your judgment”. You really couldn’t win.
I can’t say it enough, but these poor kids 🙁
Thank you for making this comic.
All of this (including the comments) just tends to reinforce a vow I made when I was 12: Sex just seems to make people unhappy and messed up, and I want nothing to do with it.
Then in my 20s, 30s, 40s, the usual forces pressured me to try to make it work anyway.
Now I’m in my 60s and I’m back to my original opinion.
Thank you for this comic. It’s painful to read at times but so real.
The echoes of CSA/SA stay with you and I feel for Jeordie.
We all could do with a supportive friend like Beth. I hope by the end of the chapter Jeordie gets the hug he so desperately needs!
Right? As thoughtful as Jeordie’s parents are, I kept waiting for them to realize how much he needed one.
“Like, that would erase it somehow. Or fix it.”
SE Case, don’t call me out like that 😭