Misconceptions In Rape Fantasies By Margaret Atwood

The second wave of feminism directly followed the first wave. It occurred during the mid-1920s up until the 1990s and was focused on challenging and expanding biologically gendered assumptions, such as women's' traditional societal roles and their sexuality. As a result, sexuality and violence against women became major areas of concern. The traditional role of woman as sexual objects renders them susceptible to non-consensual sexual activity, such as rape. Margaret Atwood’s short story “Rape Fantasies” demonstrates the misconceptions concerning rape. The story is narrated by Estelle, who discusses her coworker’s lunch stories of their ‘rape fantasies’ to a man at a bar. She adds humour to the fantasies in an attempt to disguise her discomfort