Introduction to “The Backpack”

Sexual assault violates the body and spirit. The perpetrator is deaf to the word “no.” Some people see these assaults as examples of “rape culture,” that is, a culture that excuses or tolerates sexual attacks. Violence is trivialized, ignored, or condoned. Examples of such attitudes are blaming women for dressing too provocatively, excusing athletes for rape—calling their victims “career destroyers”—and reluctance on the part of colleges to report assault statistics because of concern about their reputation.

The majority of women who are raped do not report their assault to authorities. In “The Backpack,” Anoush Froundjian reports her rape to authorities and reveals the experience to the reader in precise and terse language reminiscent of the style of Raymond Carver. She tells us about her struggle to maintain an adaptive composure during the assault.

Froundjian’s connection to her Armenian culture and language provides the primary resolve for her survival. Her level-headed presence, particularly her indestructible humor, to her surprise strips the attacker of his brutality, which could have deepened the damage.