Andie Winsor
Content Warning: This article contains discussion of sexual violence that some readers may find emotionally triggering.
At Consensual Humans, we advocate that consent must be informed, enthusiastic and
ongoing. However, there are many instances of non-consensual sexual acts in the first season
of Bridgerton, and a very controversial rape scene. Unfortunately, these actions happen and are not treated as if they were sexually violent. This is dangerous; unless the audience is educated on consent, then these instances of sexual violence may go unnoticed, or seen as average relationship problems. With the second season already out, I am hoping that consent will be dealt with differently, and if sexual violence occurs, that characters, writers, producers, etc. call it out for what it really is. This article will focus on the sexual violence between the characters of Simon and Daphne.
Daphne has never been told what sex is, or how people become pregnant. On their
wedding night, Simon tells Daphne he wants to “show her more” than she already knows about physical intimacy (which is practically nothing), and instead of telling her what sex is, he physically begins having sex with her. You cannot consent to sex if you don’t know what sex is, if your partner does not tell you what sex is, and if you don’t know what the consequences of those actions could be. Emotionally or otherwise.
An important piece of information is that Simon has told Daphne that he “cannot” have
children, and not that he “won’t” have children, due to a vow that he made to his father. After asking her maid, Daphne discovers that she can become pregnant from sex. Daphne also theorizes that Simon has been lying, that he does not have a physical condition preventing him from having children, and that he has been using the pull-out method to try and avoid getting Daphne pregnant. Daphne feels lied to and betrayed; it was a dream of hers to one day have children, and she sacrificed that for her relationship with Simon. Daphne could not make an informed decision about whether or not to consent to sex with Simon, and therefore, they had been having non-consensual sex. Daphne then decides that the best way to confirm that Simon does not have a physical condition preventing him from getting Daphne pregnant, is to sexually assault him. While they are having sex, Daphne gets on top of him, and refuses to get off of him until he ejaculates inside of her. Tampering with birth control is sexual assault, and so is forcing someone to do anything sexual.
Oftentimes, sexual violence that happens between strangers is the only type of sexual
violence that is talked about in the news (i.e. the Brock Turner case). All sexual violence is
terrible and destructive, and intimate partner violence is just as terrible and destructive as
sexual violence perpetrated by a stranger. Hopefully, the second season of Bridgerton will have learned that lesson, or will not portray sexual violence at all.
If you or someone you know has or is currently experiencing any form of sexual violence, provided below are some resources that may be found helpful.
SAC Kingston (Sexual Assault Centre)
Phone: 1-877-544-6424. Available 24 hours Crisis Support.
Email: sack@sackingston.com
Located at 400 Elliott Avenue, Unit 1 (Rockcliffe Plaza) Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
Queen's University Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Coordinator, Barb Lotan.
Barb Lotan can aid in the healing process and assess potential next steps.
Email: bjl7@queensu.ca
Office Located at B502 Mackintosh-Corry Hall, Human Rights & Equity hallway.
Kingston Police (Non-Emergency Line)
Phone: (613) 549-4660
**In the event of an emergency always call 911 immediately or if on campus locate an emergency blue light.
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