“The Rape of James Bond. On Sexual Assault, and ‘Realism’ in Popular Culture” by Sophia McDougall is a very interesting essay on the way rape is treated as a subject in fiction.

McDougall makes several excellent points about the fact that fictional rape is frequently treated as an expected part of “realistic” scenarios… but only when it happens to women. While fictional rape is commonplace for female characters, the rape of male characters – particularly traditionally masculine protagonists – is all but entirely unheard of. Despite the fact that it, too, would be more “realistic” under the circumstances these characters often find themselves in.

My summary does not do this thought-provoking essay justice, so I will hold my tongue and let you go read it for yourselves.