THE BATTLE FOR BELIEVABILITY: SEXUAL TRAUMA, TESTIMONY, AND VICTIMHOOD IN ANNA BURNS’ MILKMAN AND RUTH OZEKI’S A TALE FOR THE TIME BEING

Abstract

The widespread under-reporting of rape and sexual assault is largely attributed to the victim-blaming attitudes and routine disbelief of women in our culture. Believability–or what makes someone believable–lies at the center of this social dilemma, and raises critical questions surrounding the cultural reception of trauma narratives. This essay posits that exploring representations of sexual assault and survivor testimonies in literary fiction offers insight into the societal norms and power dynamics shaping perceptions of truth and credibility, particularly regarding gender and race. Through a comparative analysis informed by feminist theory and trauma studies, this essay examines how Anna Burns’ Milkman (2018) and Ruth Ozeki's A Tale for the Time Being (2013) employ imaginative storytelling to navigate trauma, resistance, and agency in the aftermath of sexual violence. Furthermore, it explores the reception of these narratives, both within and beyond their fictional storyworlds, highlighting the contrasting responses of disbelief and acceptance. Ultimately, this thesis argues that Milkman and A Tale for the Time Being work to expose and critique cultural perceptions of sexual violence and victimhood, and as a result, emerge as individual, innovative forms of advocacy.