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Relationships

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:
PickupaPenguin8 · 10/11/2021 23:15

Sorry just remembered they aren’t married. The point still stands.

Honeyroar · 10/11/2021 23:46

Your sister’s perception is very skewed. She needs a lot of counselling if she thinks what she did is right! And as for the “I’ll support you in any way you need”, well she fell at the first hurdle on that one, didn’t she!

But on a positive note you clearly haven’t taken any of what she said as sensible. You’re strong and you know what’s right and wrong in this scenario. Please keep talking to your supportive friend until you feel like talking to someone more official, like Rape crisis or woman’s aid. And you ARE a good mother!

timeisnotaline · 11/11/2021 01:10

Your sisters response is unbelievable. And who on this planet thinks but she has pnd is a justification for painfully raping someone??

Snugglybuggly · 11/11/2021 01:28

He sounds like a total arse

Flakjacketon · 11/11/2021 05:44

Of course he minimised everything when talking to your sister. He is not going to admit to anyone - including himself - what he did to you; but he knows he was wrong.
What matters is how you feel it is your body, your life.

Shoxfordian · 11/11/2021 05:55

Your sister doesn’t have a clear perception of it because of her own experiences; can you stay with your friend instead? Don’t let him minimise this or say you’re overreacting

Isthisit22 · 11/11/2021 06:03

Remember too that since this awful sexual assault, he has also been absolutely horrible to you. How is he explaining that?
He has told you he only likes rough sex, too. How could you ever have a relationship with him again when he's telling you that he WILL do it again.

ErrmWTAF · 11/11/2021 06:08

Uh oh. The PND card. He's teeing up to call you crazy and an unfit mother, you know that, right?

Get your truth out there ASAP.

(But I agree with PPs who see the disparity of him treating somebody suffering from PND the way he has.)

DoubleTweenQueen · 11/11/2021 10:11

If he's saying you have PND:

  1. If he states that anywhere, unofficial or otherwise, he needs to be certain of an actual medical diagnosis

  2. If he's trying to dismiss your recollection about what happened due to 'PND' - see (1) above

  3. if he actually thought you could possibly have PND, or are otherwise feeling emotionally or mentally vulnerable, that makes his actions even more reprehensible - not less

  4. What about your delicate physical state, after recently giving birth, and his total disregard for that? - in addition to the lack of thought and respect for the need for contraception.

Your sister is deluded.

Your partner is a bastard. And I never use that word - ever.

Don't allow yourself to be gaslighted.

All love and support to you

You deserve so much better.

angryandscared1 · 11/11/2021 10:45

Everything is falling apart. He's being awful to me but then nice the next minute, I'm so confused, I have no family support, I just feel like I'm going crazy. I'm losing my mind. I can't do it anymore.

OP posts:
Quartz2208 · 11/11/2021 10:47

Oh OP I am so sorry. I think you just now need to end it. This is over - for so many reasons - and figure out how to make it ok for you

Justilou1 · 11/11/2021 10:49

Oh Honey. He’s so broken.

QueenSue · 11/11/2021 11:29

Could you get in touch with your supportive friend again angryandscared1?

nomorefrogs · 11/11/2021 11:34

Op this is just heartbreaking. I have been in a similar situation and decided to stay due to fears of being a single mum and needing his support. Inevitably, we split further down the line as his behaviour got worse not better.
If I could have my time again I would have left after the first few red flags not when the last straw broke my back.
Look at his behaviour towards you. These are not the actions of a kind loving man who is devastated that he has raped the woman he loves. He is flip flopping between nice and nasty so you are confused and isolated.
I wish you all the best whatever you decide but I suspect that you will never see him in the same light again - certainly not sexually. Can you be a good friend to yourself and get out of this broken relationship for your daughters sake if not for your own?

whynotwhatknot · 11/11/2021 13:21

you need to go to your friends house for a while op-hes gaslighting you and anyone who asks him

if he believes you have pnd why isnt he more worried and trying to get some help for you

thegreywoman · 11/11/2021 13:31

@angryandscared1

Everything is falling apart. He's being awful to me but then nice the next minute, I'm so confused, I have no family support, I just feel like I'm going crazy. I'm losing my mind. I can't do it anymore.
Please OP if you can, just take your baby and go to your friend now

You need sleep and rest in a safe place and then you will be better able to see more clearly what you can do.

I don't know if you were able to contact any outside agency for help since you first posted here on Saturday, but there is also a section on MN which they put at the top of threads like these, immediately above your thread title, which you may find helpful.

But for now, sleep and rest should be your priority. Please go to your friend.

Thinking of you and holding you until you get to a place of safety Flowers

rainbowstardrops · 11/11/2021 13:37

Your sister's attitude is appalling!
If you told her that he put his hand on your throat, he was repeatedly rough, he penetrated you without a condom etc etc etc then what on earth did she need 'his side of the story'???!!!!
You need to seek professional help and advice and go to your friend I say.
Your sister should be ashamed of herself.

WhatsWithAllTheCarrots · 11/11/2021 13:38

Hello OP, please consider going to your friend's house. If you're confused about whether or not to leave him for good then that's understandable as there is a lot going on for you right now, but you need to be able to get some space to think about things. That's perfectly OK. And you need to feel safe in the meantime. Don't worry about putting upon your friend - you know she'd do the same for you.

Please also consider contacting your GP or the other agencies mentioned. You can get through this.

AdamRyan · 11/11/2021 13:59

Please reach out to someone
www.womensaid.org.uk/information-support/
www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/if-youre-having-difficult-time/

Do you have anyone you can stay with for a couple of days? Or even book into a travel lodge or similar - just for some space

This is him not you - listen to your instincts

Alonelonelylonersbadidea · 11/11/2021 14:16

@ArabellaScott

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

These are wise words indeed.

It's a terrible situation but you will find your way through.
For what it's worth, a person can be a rapist and other things besides. He is using your DD as a weak spot, but that's inevitable. Maybe ask if your sister can be a go between.

Alonelonelylonersbadidea · 11/11/2021 14:19

With regard to the sister's comment I do understand where it comes from, but with no added information other than assuming she knows the OP and what happened, I don't think it was right to say this.
What happened was rape clearly, you did not consent to either rough sex or sex with a condom and clearly he should've known during that you didn't want what he was doing.
I've been raped by all my partners except 3. In itself it's a fucking epidemic.

Bellringer · 11/11/2021 14:38

Please get away and stay away from him. Get support.

AcrossthePond55 · 11/11/2021 16:42

Your sister is dealing with her own trauma. But that's really no excuse for her appalling lack of basic respect for your privacy and safety. OK, you know now that she is of no use to you. She cannot be trusted not to be a 'conduit of information' to your not-dP, either deliberately or because her judgment is so skewed that she isn't thinking straight.

Erase anything she's said from your mind. It has no validity and does not come from a place of right-thinking on her part. Again, I'm not excusing her but her own trauma/abuse has messed with her own head. Don't let her mess with yours.

Is there other family you can call? Even far away family? TBH I'm closer to one of my cousins than I am to my sister. Nothing 'wrong' with my sister, but my cousin and I are closer in age and 'commonality of experience' than my sister and I are. Is there anyone that fits that bill for you?

Speak to your friend. Ask for help in making a plan. See if your friend is able to store a 'bug out bag' (aka 'go bag') along with important papers and some cash at her place.

www.loveisrespect.org/resources/how-to-make-a-go-bag-when-leaving-an-abusive-relationship/

As far as his 'nice then nasty' behaviour, that's intentional to keep you on edge and to make you think you aren't thinking straight about what happened. But you ARE thinking straight about it. You know what happened and you know it's wrong. Just remember that the 'nasty him' is the true one and the 'nice him' is a facade. A facade that he can't hold forever.

PickupaPenguin8 · 11/11/2021 16:46

@angryandscared1

Everything is falling apart. He's being awful to me but then nice the next minute, I'm so confused, I have no family support, I just feel like I'm going crazy. I'm losing my mind. I can't do it anymore.
Go and stay with your father. Ask him to trust you and support you, and not contact your husband. Then make plans from there. Your partner sounds a bit unhinged to be honest.
PickupaPenguin8 · 11/11/2021 16:48

I have to say in the OPs position I would not go and stay with a friend. It's a lot to ask of a friend to have someone to stay with a baby in these circumstances for an unlimited time. It depends how close you are to your friend, but personally, I would never do that. Family is a different thing.