Laura Purll was 13 years old when a female friend pinned her to a wall in a school stationery cupboard and sexually assaulted her. The incident, which began as what seemed like flirtation, left her confused, embarrassed, and in pain. She did not tell anyone for years, partly because the law at the time did not recognise rape between women, and partly because she feared being outed as gay.
A 'joke' that turned into trauma
Purll’s experience started with what the perpetrator called a joke. When she later discussed it with friends, one person told her: 'A woman can’t sexually assault another woman. You’re minimising real victims.' That word 'real' has haunted her. She argues that if two women can have sex, then a woman can sexually assault another woman, yet society and the law have struggled to acknowledge this reality.
The assault took place in March 2000. Within weeks, Purll had lost her grandfather, realised she was gay, and was trying to navigate a world that was not welcoming. The perpetrator was a charismatic, intimidating friend who seemed to know Purll was gay before she admitted it to herself. After the assault, the woman threatened to tell Purll’s parents 'what their daughter really was' if she did not comply.
The impact on adult life
Purll says the trauma followed her into adulthood. Relationships have been difficult; she needs constant reassurance that feelings are genuine and not a joke. Therapy has taken years. She struggles to trust people, and criticism sticks while compliments slide off. Years later, she discovered the woman who assaulted her had moved to her parents’ road and was working for a rape support organisation. Purll initially laughed, then became angry, and broke her five-year sobriety by drinking heavily.
Emmerdale’s storyline as a turning point
When Purll learned that Emmerdale was exploring female-on-female sexual assault through the character of Charity Dingle, played by Emma Atkins, she says it meant a great deal. The storyline involves Charity being assaulted by Dr. Caitlin Todd, who uses manipulation and blackmail. Purll notes that the blackmail scenes 'made my blood run cold' because they mirrored her own experience of being controlled.
Purll praises soaps for tackling subjects other programmes avoid, such as grooming, sibling abuse, and male rape. She believes Charity’s story brings visibility to an experience that is often overlooked. 'For years, I quietly hoped someone would tell this story,' she writes.
The need for legal recognition
Purll’s one frustration is the lack of research and data on female-on-female sexual assault. She knows others have experienced this, but the silence around it does not mean it is rare. She calls for the law to evolve: 'If it does not recognise that rape can occur between women, then it fails to recognise the reality of sexual violence in queer relationships.'
She concludes that storylines like Charity’s lay the groundwork for awareness and conversation. 'They make survivors realise they are not the only ones. Now I’m waiting for the next chapter.'
