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Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

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Partner has no respect for my sexual boundaries

772 replies

angryandscared1 · 06/11/2021 08:01

I'm so angry and upset. NC for this but regular poster.

I'm sorry this is quite long and some graphic descriptions of sexual nature so please don't read on if this isn't for you.

Partner and I have 7 month baby, things have been v stressful since baby was born, no time for each other etc. We've been working on it.

We very rarely have sex, it's just impossible to find the time or energy, both always exhausted. I'd say we have sex once every 2-3 weeks since baby's birth, it used to be every other day or at least 4 times a week so I understand his frustration. I also feel differently now, hate my body how it's changed so much (used to be slim and toned now have larger tummy and thighs), and also I just don't have much libido anymore.

Anyway last night we were kissing in bed etc and I said I wanted to try and have sex. I was very clear it had to be with a condom or nothing (I'm not on any birth control at the moment and definitely don't want another baby yet), and I also said I need you to be gentle and careful. He agreed. He then proceeded to be quite rough with his fingers, I had to remind him twice please be gentle that hurts. Then he attempted to penetrate me without the condom on, I said what are you doing, he said I wanted to "feel you" - I said again, no we need to take this seriously as I don't want to end up pregnant again. He seemed to accept that but the rest of the foreplay seemed half hearted so I felt he wasn't interested and was impatient to get to the "main event". He kept pushing to penetrate me (more with his body language than anything). I felt under pressure. He also had his hand on my throat at one point - I removed it but didn't say anything to him. After some foreplay I said ok we can do it now - he then entered me quite aggressively from behind without a condom (I didn't realise at this point he didn't have one on). I was so taken aback by how rough it was, I didn't know what to say or do, it hurt so much. He was being very aggressive, I tried to get up on my knees to stop the pain but I couldn't. I have no idea why I didn't just say stop, but I was in shock with it. Then he said he was going to ejaculate on my bum - I suddenly realised there was no condom. I started to cry and pull away from him then I just left the bed sat in the bathroom and cried.

Afterwards I said how hurt and angry I was that he has no respect for my boundaries. He claimed it was "hard to remember" to use a condom because we never used to before the baby. I think this is a ridiculous excuse, I said several times please use one. With regard to being rough with me, he said "I thought you wanted rough sex" (not sure how, I'd said several times during foreplay, please be gentle).

This morning he's making me feel like I've done something wrong. I said technically he had raped me by penetrating me against my consent without a condom - he got annoyed when I used that word and said "fine we aren't having sex ever again if you're going accuse me of that - from now on this is a sexless relationship and I'll stay just for the baby".

I'm so confused about the whole thing. Did he rape me? Should I have spoken up sooner and said stop when it hurt? I just can't make sense of any of it and I don't want him anywhere near me anymore. Sad

OP posts:
picklemewalnuts · 08/11/2021 08:27

@KurtWilde the man used his wife as an object, treated her appallingly and seems to have no remorse apart from the adverse impact it may have on him. I'm not convinced he can care about his daughter. Feel ownership of her, take pride in being a father maybe. Genuine love, including when she reaches an age to annoy him, challenge him, disobey him?

You're a bit quick to separate out his behaviour from what that means. Some things shouldn't be written off as a moment of poor behaviour. They indicate the type of person he is.

KurtWilde · 08/11/2021 08:31

[quote picklemewalnuts]@KurtWilde the man used his wife as an object, treated her appallingly and seems to have no remorse apart from the adverse impact it may have on him. I'm not convinced he can care about his daughter. Feel ownership of her, take pride in being a father maybe. Genuine love, including when she reaches an age to annoy him, challenge him, disobey him?

You're a bit quick to separate out his behaviour from what that means. Some things shouldn't be written off as a moment of poor behaviour. They indicate the type of person he is.[/quote]
Look I've been on this thread from the beginning, I know what he did to his wife. I've also been in her situation so pack it in with the condescending tone.

But you have to separate that from him being a dad to their DD. He's been a hands on parent from what OP has said, his DD will be missing him and vice versa. You cannot make ridiculous assumptions that he doesn't care about his child because of what happened sexually with his partner. The two are in no way related.

PickupaPenguin8 · 08/11/2021 08:54

Can you take the baby and go and stay with your family ? Just get on a train or a plane and go? Don’t be ashamed, just tell them things are really bad between you and you need time away. Do you have a god relationship with your Mum?

MondayYogurt · 08/11/2021 09:03

He's trying to wear you down. He knows the baby is your weak point and asking about her will require you to reply. He knows what he's doing.

You can never make someone care for you, you know that. And it's not your fault he doesn't. It's his fault.

Be strong, mute him for the rest of the day. One day at a time.

KurtWilde · 08/11/2021 09:09

@MondayYogurt

He's trying to wear you down. He knows the baby is your weak point and asking about her will require you to reply. He knows what he's doing.

You can never make someone care for you, you know that. And it's not your fault he doesn't. It's his fault.

Be strong, mute him for the rest of the day. One day at a time.

Or it could just be that he genuinely is interested in asking about his baby. This thread is getting ridiculous. The idea is to SUPPORT OP, not make her feel worse. Can people please try and remember they're addressing a real live human being who's already in a vulnerable emotional state, and stop planting ideas in her head that you actually have no clue are true or not. Do not encourage her to use her DD against him by making out his interest in his daughter as fake.
ChargingBuck · 08/11/2021 09:20

I just feel so worthless.

You are not worthless, & your baby loves & needs you.

Feelings of "worthlessness" are a common symptom for women who have been assaulted. The feeling also accompanies long term emotional abuse - it's a normal & understandable reaction to being persistently undermined, devalued, lied to & treated with contempt by a horrible man who is pretending to love you.

The feeling will pass.
You will be on a rollercoaster ride for a little while OP while your body & mind processes what happened.
The longer you can spend without being in contact with your partner, the better you will be able to manage that.
This is also why it's important to maintain contact with your friend. You don't have to explain to her, you don't have to dwell - but having an external focus on a safe & trusted buddy is what you need right now. Someone to check in with, have a cup of tea with, even a giggle if possible & it helps you to forget for 5 minutes.

You will get through to Rape Crisis eventually, & that will help a lot too. You will then have a trusted person you can talk to anonymously, & that will give you some relief. Keep trying - you so, so deserve proper support right now. Thinking of you OP xx

MondayYogurt · 08/11/2021 09:33

@KurtWilde

OP is hurting. OP is being hurt. You can hear the pain in every word she has written.
She does NOT owe him multiple replies to the messages he "keeps" sending her.
He is harassing her, that's clear, and it's making her feel even worse. So no, she is perfectly entitled to reply or not reply for ONE day to help her mental health recover without him demanding actions from her.

This guy doesn't need you caping for him.

ChargingBuck · 08/11/2021 09:37

Do not encourage her to use her DD against him by making out his interest in his daughter as fake.

@KurtWilde - how about you DO NOT ENCOURAGE OP TO BE TRICKED INTO UNWANTED COMMUNICATION WITH HER RAPIST BY MAKING OUT HIS INTEREST IN THEIR DAUGHTER IS GENUINE.

FFS he is using the child as a lever to ensure his communication channels stay open to OP. Whether his love for the baby is genuine or not is pretty much irrelevant at this point - OP has asked for space, & her partner is signally not giving it to her. Hardly a surprise - he has a big problem respecting her "no".

And for crying out loud OP does not need to be thinking about future access arrangements right now, so keep your sanctimonious hypocritical lecture about "supporting" OP to yourself. She doesn't need to be thinking about anything more than getting through the day, talking to her friend, & ringing RC.

If you harangue her again about how she 'ought' to be responding to her rapist, & how she 'ought' to be considering her rapist's love for their child, I will be reporting you to MN for harrassment.

You also don't get to "special plead" your way out of this by mentioning your own sexual assault. How many PP's do you think are also victims? IT'S NOT ABOUT US right now so we don't bang on about it.
Got it?

angryandscared1 · 08/11/2021 09:37

@PickupaPenguin8

Can you take the baby and go and stay with your family ? Just get on a train or a plane and go? Don’t be ashamed, just tell them things are really bad between you and you need time away. Do you have a god relationship with your Mum?

My mum sadly passed away. I have a good relationship with my Dad but he's a huge fan of my partner - he often defends his POV in previous arguments we've had (admittedly nothing this serious). I do have siblings who would be appalled and very supportive. But they have so much going on in their own lives that I don't want to bother them right now.

OP posts:
AndStand · 08/11/2021 09:42

OP if your siblings will be supportive then contact them! They'll be more upset if you didn't.

NadiaVulvokov · 08/11/2021 09:50

@AndStand

OP if your siblings will be supportive then contact them! They'll be more upset if you didn't.
Really agree with this. If I was one of your siblings I’d hate to think of you going through Thai on your own
KurtWilde · 08/11/2021 09:56

Supporting someone doesn't mean constantly reminding them of how shit someone has been towards them, or telling them that their baby's dad only messages them to get to them. That's just adding insult to injury and I hope to god a friend never comes to some of you with a scenario like this, because from what I've read here all some of you would do is kick them when they're down by reminding them that their ex doesn't care about them - pretty much 600 messages worth on this thread - instead of helping them move forward and actually supporting them. I'm out.

ChargingBuck · 08/11/2021 09:59

OP I think your siblings would immediately recognise that out of all of you - YOU are the one with the absolute most "going on in your life" right now!

If it had happened to one of them, no matter how busy you were, you'd want to know, wouldn't you? You'd be so sad that they tried to struggle through it alone ... please don't do that to yourself.

Sorry about your dad. You don't need anyone else telling you to consider your partner's point of view [eyeroll] so I agree, he doesn't sound like a safe bet. Flowers

loobylou831 · 08/11/2021 10:00

OP I Am so sorry that you are going through this. Sending a big hug and strength to you.

Please watch this www.channel4.com/programmes/cops-on-trial-dispatches I think it may give you some food for thought and it may help.

Domestic violence in any form is never acceptable whether it comes from Joe bloggs the thug down the street or a so called pillar of the community.

I hope this helps Flowers

ChargingBuck · 08/11/2021 10:02

@KurtWilde

Supporting someone doesn't mean constantly reminding them of how shit someone has been towards them, or telling them that their baby's dad only messages them to get to them. That's just adding insult to injury and I hope to god a friend never comes to some of you with a scenario like this, because from what I've read here all some of you would do is kick them when they're down by reminding them that their ex doesn't care about them - pretty much 600 messages worth on this thread - instead of helping them move forward and actually supporting them. I'm out.
Good.

& here's a newsflash - rapists don't care about their victims. This is hardly news to OP, but I'm sorry you had trouble accepting that fact, & it's probably for the best that you don't trigger yourself or anyone else here by talking shit about that rapist's feelings.

ArabellaScott · 08/11/2021 10:15

It's something I had to be gently taught by the women of Mumsnet. Too often when a woman has been abused we want to swoop in and help out, tell her what to do, warn her, insist on what she does and how she should feel.

There is a risk of replicating the same dynamic an abused woman has been experiencing.

Support means being here to listen. Not judging. Offering links/info if that is useful and relevant.

Recovering from a relationship that has included control or abusive dynamics takes time and gentle understanding. Most of all, the OP needs to be given space to make her own choices and decisions.

Hope you're okay today, OP. Flowers

PickupaPenguin8 · 08/11/2021 10:16

@AndStand

OP if your siblings will be supportive then contact them! They'll be more upset if you didn't.
I agree.
Opentooffers · 08/11/2021 10:17

I think your siblings are the best route to support. When ready, tell them what happened. I'm sure they will offer help then. That way any help will be given freely and you won't feel as much burden of guilt - which you do seem to be shouldering far too much of unnecessarily.

ArabellaScott · 08/11/2021 10:17

Useful info from Women's Aid on how to support other women:

www.womensaid.org.uk/the-survivors-handbook/im-worried-about-someone-else/

shiningjustforyou · 08/11/2021 10:20

@angryandscared1 what I am hearing from you a lot is that you don't need or deserve help and support from those around you or that they'll be too busy to be there for you?

Do you really think that's true? Do they love you, do you have a good relationship? Would you be there the other way round.

You are important, you are special to other people and they will want to help if they can. Even if that's just checking in with you by phone or online.

Please reach out. You can tell them as much or as little as you feel comfortable with. Be clear with them what you need from them.

Whatagreytdoggo · 08/11/2021 10:44

So sorry op, I just wanted to say I'd be heartbroken if my sister or friend was going through this and didn't come to me. I'd drop everything, there would be no bother at all. Hope it gets better for you.

Justilou1 · 08/11/2021 11:00

@angryandscared1... I am so grateful that you didn't read whatever the mansplainer posted. I'm pleased that I missed it too. I was raped when I was 14. I know that context was entirely different, but it was still someone who I had trusted and was supposed to look after me. Understanding the betrayal at any age is incomprehensible. Your DH is using exactly the same language as the person who raped me. He is being manipulative in an attempt to make you feel bad/guilty for "hurting HIS feelings" by suggesting that he could be capable of something so heinous. (Ergo it MUST be your fault. Trust me - it is no more you fault, than it was mine.) He is not YOUR victim. Don't let him play that game.

Bellringer · 08/11/2021 11:24

Just give yourself time and space. Talk to your siblings. You will get through this. No contact is easier, you will need legal advice

Newestname002 · 08/11/2021 12:02

@ChargingBuck

Do not encourage her to use her DD against him by making out his interest in his daughter as fake.

@KurtWilde - how about you DO NOT ENCOURAGE OP TO BE TRICKED INTO UNWANTED COMMUNICATION WITH HER RAPIST BY MAKING OUT HIS INTEREST IN THEIR DAUGHTER IS GENUINE.

FFS he is using the child as a lever to ensure his communication channels stay open to OP. Whether his love for the baby is genuine or not is pretty much irrelevant at this point - OP has asked for space, & her partner is signally not giving it to her. Hardly a surprise - he has a big problem respecting her "no".

And for crying out loud OP does not need to be thinking about future access arrangements right now, so keep your sanctimonious hypocritical lecture about "supporting" OP to yourself. She doesn't need to be thinking about anything more than getting through the day, talking to her friend, & ringing RC.

If you harangue her again about how she 'ought' to be responding to her rapist, & how she 'ought' to be considering her rapist's love for their child, I will be reporting you to MN for harrassment.

You also don't get to "special plead" your way out of this by mentioning your own sexual assault. How many PP's do you think are also victims? IT'S NOT ABOUT US right now so we don't bang on about it.
Got it?

👏🏻 👏🏻

whitehorsesdonotlie · 08/11/2021 12:33

You've asked him several times in the past not to be so rough in bed. He keeps doing it. You have asked him several times not to shout at you. He keeps doing it.

He doesn't care about you. He doesn't care about how you feel. All he cares about is himself.

I'm so sorry he raped you.

If you were my family, I'd want you to tell me so I could help you.