Jordanne Semper-Scott
Contributing Writer
Trigger warning: This content includes of mentions of rape, sexual assault and stalking. The intention is not to offend but to provide information. Proceed only if you are comfortable with these potentially sensitive topics.
The summer was a time well spent –– well spent binging TV series, such as Netflix’s crime-thriller mini-series “Baby Reindeer.” When a series is located outside of the political turmoil of the United States and the characters speak in a British-cockney accent… “Why not?” I think to myself.
The series centers around Richard Gadd’s fictional portrayal of Donny Dunn, a struggling stand-up comedian in London. One day while he’s working at a pub, he encounters a woman named Martha (Jessica Gunning). The first interaction Donny has with Martha starts off awkward but slowly turns into a strange and unlikely friendship. As the show progresses, Martha’s obsessive and controlling behavior causes Donny to try and distance himself from her. However, his attempts to avoid Martha fail as she continuously harasses him with sexually charged messages and tries to insert herself in his life — disintegrating his relationships with the people he loves and threatening his dignity as a man.
In most psychological thriller media, men are depicted as the aggressor to the female protagonist. What makes this series different is that it takes the trope of psychological thrillers and reverses the traditional gender roles whilst incorporating a dash of dark humor and poignant drama. When watching each episode, I felt like I was being pulled into a nauseating loophole of Donny’s thought process: this woman — who was once a sweet, albeit quirky, ray of sunshine — became the bane of his existence. It wasn’t until the fourth episode when all the questions I had about Donny’s hesitancy to report Martha to the police would be answered. I must warn readers that it is very difficult to watch.
According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), one out of every ten rape victims is male. “About 3% of American men—or 1 in 33—have experienced an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime.” Men and boys who have been sexually assaulted respond to trauma in various ways, including shame, doubt, avoiding people or places that remind them of the assault or abuse and feeling weak or like “less of a man.” The societal expectation for men to be strong and defend themselves against their opponents’ attempts undermines the pain and trauma that remains hidden within them. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that about one in 17 men were victims of predatory stalking at some point in their lifetime — which is why they are underrepresented for reporting to authorities.
This series impacted me in a way that stands out from other psychological horror shows. It strikes at the hearts of viewers who are uncomfortable with the truth: when men are victims or survivors of assault or rape, their victimhood is affected by society’s expectations of masculinity.
A controversy surrounding the series was the depiction of the female antagonist as the stalker. A plus-sized woman who was depicted as less attractive or not physically appealing did not sit well with certain viewers. I would refute that critique and say that humans can be dark and sadistic creatures regardless of gender or body type. Fictional storytelling can be a harrowing portrayal of who we are. The ugliness we possess can be unearthed and whoever possesses too much power can wield their power to control and silence victims.
When Gadd received the Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, he stated during his acceptance speech, “if you’re struggling, keep going. Keep going. And I promise you, things will be okay.”
If you or somebody you know has been a victim of sexual assault, please contact the following: National Sexual Assault Hotline – 1 (800) 656-HOPE (4673). Victim Connect: 1-855-4VICTIM (1-855-484-2846) and National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1−800−799−7233.