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When will Outlander be held accountable for its overuse of rape?


https://www.themarysue.com/outlander-overuse-of-rape-why/

Outlander producers have long held that rape is part of history, and they are trying to be historically accurate with their rape scenes. But that excuse is lazy, says Princess Weekes. "I feel like, when it comes to discussing Outlander, I am often beating a dead horse," says Weekes. "Despite the multiple problematic things about the show, it has remained a darling in many feminist circles because it does have admittedly interesting things to say about gender … if it’s about Claire and people Claire views as worth her time. The sex scenes between Claire and Jamie and well shot and loving, but that seems to make people unable to address the fact that Outlander, the books and the show, have used rape as a plot device since the beginning, and it’s exhausting. Especially because, as Claire says in the episode, she’s been through so much already—in two time periods! World War II, Civil Rights, the beginning of the American Revolution, and the Battle of Culloden? Not even to mention all the emotional trauma of her miscarriages and losing her husband(s). Is it too much to ask that she not be gang-raped?" Weekes adds: "I want to make clear that I totally expect there to be survivors who see themselves in Outlander, and I’m not trying to shame people who love Outlander. It just seems ridiculous to me that we have called out Game of Thrones for doing this, but Outlander is doing the same thing for similar 'historically accurate brutality' reasons."

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Some relatives of mine tried to introduce me to Outlander, and from the very first episode I got the impression that this was going to be one of those series where rape is used as a lazy plot device. Thanks for the heads-up in advance. I won't be watching any more episodes.

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It's definitely NOT used in a lazy fashion. It is a part of their stories, and their reality....but it is not done loosely and it most certainly not gratuitous. But when it does happen, many things become a ripple effect because of it....as one would expect. I'm sensitive to this subject matter myself....and I don't think rape is depicted irresponsibly or gratuitously at all in Outlander. And it definitely does not happen often. But when it does...it is a very big deal (as one would expect).

I hope you don't let this deter you from delving a bit further into this great series and giving it a fair shake. It's a whirlwind adventure, and a great love story.

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This article sums up my thoughts pretty well. Gratuitous rape is a lazy plot device and too many series rely on it nowadays for the shock value.

https://www.avclub.com/outlanders-obsession-with-sexual-violence-has-become-ex-1843382558

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