The person who pointed out that it’s about power has it in one, but if you’d like to learn more about war rape’s use in modern conflicts, Our Bodies Their Battlefield: What War Does to Women by Christina Lamb is an excellent introduction. Despite the title, it does touch on male rape as well, and it gives a comprehensive overview of the ways rape is used as a weapon, as well as the ways survivors recover from it.

(Note: I wish there were more research on the subject for laypeople, focusing on the use of war rape with men, since it shows up throughout conflicts as well - but Lamb’s book was a first. It’s a very recent title, and my hope is that other brave writers will put together more books on the subject.)

At the risk of sounding like an asshole, everything seems simpler when you’re a child. I’d recommend going back and looking at the actual debate happening at the time with the eyes of an adult.

I finally found a therapist I like, and I’m hopeful that it’s actually going to make a difference this time