Content Warning: Discussions of rape and human trafficking.
We will not be reviewing The Rising of the Shield Hero premiere here at Anime Feminist.
I watched the episode, and it was worse than I had imagined. I have never seen a series with such a deeply held, misanthropic victim mentality.
I contemplated how to approach the review. I thought about pretending to review it from an incel point-of-view, but that felt a little too close to the truth. I thought about writing with vitriol and rage, but that honestly felt pointless. Our readers know why a series hinging on a false rape accusation and slavery apologism is wrong; going into hysterics over it would only bring greater attention to it and give our detractors vindictive glee.
The rest of the AniFem team felt the same, so we decided to do something different this time. We’ll never call for censorship or removal of media, but we can choose who and what we promote.
So, rather than holler about the episode and bring more attention to a bad series (which Crunchyroll has already done plenty of, since they’ve chosen to co-produce this of all shows), we’re going to give that visibility to some organizations dedicated to helping survivors of rape and human trafficking. We encourage our readers to support these groups through both donations and signal-boosting as well.
RAINN
The Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network is one of the largest organizations in the U.S. dedicated to survivors. It has its own sexual assault hotline, but its biggest function is connecting people with the local resources they need. You can also use their site to find local organizations and shelters to donate to.
Sex Workers Project
A project of the Urban Justice Center in New York, which offers aid to marginalized and low-income citizens, SWP works both to make safe conditions for by-choice sex workers and to eradicate human trafficking.
Anti-Slavery International
The world’s oldest anti-slavery organization and, according their website, the oldest human rights organization. They were a major contributor to the abolition of slavery in the UK and have taken their fight worldwide over the years.
Futures Without Violence
Focuses on changing the culture that creates violence through education. They address the issue on a variety of levels, including educating children about consent, offering counseling to men who commit domestic violence, training professionals who work with victims of assault, and improving the laws and legal protections.
The National Human Trafficking Hotline
Offers resources and referrals to victims of human trafficking all over the U.S. Their anonymous phone line is accessible 24/7 in over 200 languages to offer support to victims and take tips about possible traffickers. They also have a referral directory so people can seek help all over the country.
Men Can Stop Rape
Takes a proactive approach to educating men about their role in rape culture and promoting a healthier relationship with masculinity. It also offers resources for perpetrators who are trying to change and male survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence.
If you have a favorite organization that wasn’t covered here, please add a link in the comments!
Editor’s Note: This article was edited after publication to (1) remove a charity with an anti-sex worker track record and (2) include a link to another article for further reading.
Editor’s Note (2/1): Comments have been closed. Submitted discussion has reached a tipping point of repetitiveness and aggression toward the author of the piece and other commentors that exceeds the usefulness of the conversation
