Drawing Power: Women's Stories of Sexual Violence, Harassment, and Survival

Drawing Power is an anthology of graphic narratives by over 60 women artists sharing their personal experiences with sexual violence, harassment, and survival. The collection emerged in response to the #MeToo movement and features both established cartoonists and newer voices in the medium. Each contributor uses their distinct artistic style and storytelling approach to document encounters ranging from workplace harassment to assault. The stories span different time periods, cultural contexts, and phases of life, presenting a wide spectrum of experiences and perspectives. The black and white illustrations vary from minimalist sketches to detailed compositions, with each artist choosing their own visual vocabulary to express their truth. Editor Diane Noomin has assembled these individual pieces into a cohesive volume that maintains the unique voice of each contributor. The anthology stands as a testament to the power of visual storytelling in processing trauma and building solidarity. Through personal narratives rendered in graphic form, the collection explores themes of voice, silence, power, and resilience in the face of sexual violence.

Readers found this anthology powerful yet difficult to read due to its heavy subject matter. Many noted they had to take breaks between stories to process the emotional content. Liked: - Diverse art styles and perspectives from multiple contributors - Accessible format for discussing trauma - Balance of both known and emerging artists - Clear trigger warnings at the start - Stories range from subtle workplace harassment to violent assault Disliked: - Some felt certain stories were too brief - A few readers wanted more resolution or healing elements - Art quality varies between contributions Ratings: Goodreads: 4.3/5 (218 ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (47 ratings) Reader Quote: "Each story hits differently but they all resonate with unfortunate familiarity" - Goodreads reviewer Multiple readers noted the book works well for starting discussions about sexual violence and recommended it for library collections and women's studies programs.

Know My Name by Chanel Miller A survivor's memoir recounts her sexual assault case against Stanford swimmer Brock Turner and its impact on the legal system.

Not That Bad: Dispatches from Rape Culture by Roxane Gay This anthology collects first-person accounts from survivors sharing their experiences with sexual violence and its aftermath.

Things We Didn't Talk About When I Was a Girl by Jeannie Vanasco The author confronts her rapist, a former friend, through a series of conversations that explore memory, trauma, and accountability.

I Have the Right To by Chessy Prout, Jenn Abelson A high school sexual assault survivor documents her journey through the legal system and her fight for justice at an elite prep school.

What We Talk About When We Talk About Rape by Sohaila Abdulali A combination of research, personal narrative, and interviews examines how society discusses and responds to sexual violence.

🔷 Drawing Power received the 2020 Eisner Award for Best Anthology, one of the highest honors in comics and graphic storytelling. 🔷 Editor Diane Noomin collected stories from over 60 female artists spanning multiple generations, countries, and artistic styles to create this powerful anthology. 🔷 The book was inspired by the #MeToo movement and includes contributions from both renowned artists and emerging voices in the comics industry. 🔷 Many of the contributing artists had never previously shared their experiences of sexual violence publicly, making Drawing Power a groundbreaking platform for their stories. 🔷 The anthology includes work from Underground Comix pioneer Aline Kominsky-Crumb and award-winning cartoonist Emil Ferris, demonstrating the broad reach of sexual violence across generations of female artists.