Straight Talk About Sexual Violence

Sexualized violence is pervasive in everyday life and deeply anchored across all areas of society. In her book “OpferMacht,” Nora Kellner demonstrates the consequences it can have for women, lesbians, inter*, non-binary, trans, and agender people (FLINTA*). The book draws on the author’s own experiences as its starting point. In a sober, matter-of-fact tone, Kellner describes what it feels like to resist sexualized violence and to pursue legal action. She also explains how painful and burdensome it can be when outside observers judge the incident.

Critique of the Police, the Judiciary, and Left-Wing Politics

In analyzing her own story, Kellner repeatedly engages with public debates and concrete examples. Through them she shows the structures that sustain and reproduce sexualized violence.
She places particular emphasis on what she sees as deeply sexist structures within the police and the judiciary. At the same time, she asks why left-wing forces do not meet their responsibilities in the debate, even though they decisively condemn sexualized violence.
In “OpferMacht” Kellner writes against a society and culture that systematically silences survivors. Direct and outraged, she stubbornly defies lingering myths about sexualized violence, expresses solidarity with those affected, and insists: the responsibility never lies with the people who have experienced violence.
Nora Kellner studied political science and sociology in Dresden and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in “Gender and Queer Studies” in Cologne. She works in educational work on gender, sexual, and romantic diversity in schools. (dd/pm)