Asking for It

Emma, a beautiful, charismatic eighteen-year-old ties her self-worth into her beauty and popularity. At a party, she mixes alcohol and drugs and is gang-raped, and when photos and video are posted online, she is the centre of national media attention. The impact is so great – the community takes sides, she attempts suicide twice, her mother becomes an alcoholic, her father loses his job – Emma withdraws her complaint. This stark account is based on accounts of rape victims, and deals with sensitive issues of rape, consent, social media, and drug and alcohol use. Teacher preview required; may be suitable for independent reading by mature students or for discussion of consent.