So many “sexy” love interests in TEEN fantasy—promoted to teens—are NARCISSISTS.
These men:
Invade boundaries.
Sexually assault the protagonist and treat it like a joke.
Belittle their voice.
Break them down.
Groom them.
Joke about their femininity and appearance.
Sexually harass them.
Tell and show their possessiveness.
Have no respect for them.
Play the victim.
Pretend to be the savior/healer.
Prey on the main character girl’s weakness and self-esteem by building them up and affirming them, knowing it will make her codependent.
Another common trope for TEEN fantasy female protagonists:
She is BEATEN or PUNISHED brutally through physical or sexual degradation. She has LOW self-esteem.
She blames herself.
She seeks belonging in the wrong places.
She “OVERCOMES” by becoming VIOLENT and/or forced into a dangerous war.
She goes through unspeakable TRAUMA.
She “HEALS” from trauma ONLY because the NARCISSISTIC man enables her, gives her power, affirms her, and she credits him with her survival hood.
Or…because she is just as sociopathic and evil as the culture around her.
People: the books our children are READING promote domestic abuser methods, narcissistic love interests, degrading violence to teenagers, or kids turning evil and violent to find belonging and to work out their trauma.
We need to do BETTER! We don’t need more Gabby Petitos internalizing domestic and narcissistic violence as “sexy”.
We don’t need more bullies.
We need survivor advocates. We need healers. We need movers and shakers. We need reformers!
#domesticviolenceawarenessmonth #domesticviolenceawareness #domesticviolence #gabbypetito