In A response, Iris Brey explores the complex interplay between personal identity and societal structures, focusing on themes of desire, trauma, and liberation. The book, published on 19 August 2026, traces Brey’s journey of self-discovery and transformation, particularly her transition toward identifying as a lesbian, which she frames as a response to the trauma of incest. Brey, known for her work as a filmmaker and author of The Female Gaze, a Revolution on Screen (L'Olivier, 2020), uses insights from social sciences to examine how narratives can serve as tools of resistance against the harm inflicted on children and the silence maintained by families to protect perpetrators. Brey details her personal experiences, including her time studying abroad, the influence of literature and relationships, and the impact of marriage and motherhood on her identity. She reflects on how becoming a mother and embracing a lesbian identity marked significant shifts in her life, stating, "I am no longer nulliparous, no longer heterosexual, no longer someone's wife." She emphasizes that embracing lesbianism is not just a personal choice but a necessary act of resistance, creating new spaces for marginalized voices to be heard and acknowledged. Brey introduces the idea of a "lesbian prism," a way of seeing the world that challenges dominant norms and highlights the marginalization experienced by those who do not conform. However, she also notes that the liberating aspects of this identity are still shaped by bourgeois conditions. She suggests that motherhood does not limit emotional connections but can open new pathways to a lesbian identity, as seen in moments like "I became lesbian the first time my mouth touched hers" and "I became lesbian when I took her hand at the café." Christian Naewelaers responds critically to Brey’s work, arguing that her perspective distorts the reality of child abuse by overemphasizing its prevalence and generalizing adult behavior. He challenges the idea that heterosexuality is a choice, stating that he does not perceive his own heterosexuality as such and that it exists across all social classes. Naewelaers also criticizes the focus on bourgeois experiences in discussions of heterosexuality, arguing that dismissing average heterosexual relationships is unrealistic and potentially harmful to children. He further points out grammatical errors in Brey’s writing, such as the misuse of articles in phrases like "the violence experienced by the children, women" and "the incestuous destruction that adults inflict on children."