Asking Quote by Karen Marie Moning
“Then why was his tongue in your mouth? Was he conducting a clinical test of your gag reflex?" He smiled, but not nicely. "How is your gag reflex, Ms. Lane? Are you a hair trigger?" Barrons likes to use sexual innuendo to try to shut me up. I think he expects the well-raised southern belle in me will think eew and back off. Sometimes, I do think eew, but I don't back off. "I'm a spitter, if that's what you're asking." I flashed him a too-sweet smile. "Didn't look that way to me. I think you're a swallower. His tongue was halfway to China and you were still taking it." "Jealous?”
About This Quote
Source Novel: A Discovery of Witches, 2014
A character uses sexual innuendo to intimidate, but the speaker resists and asserts agency over her own body and reactions.
In simple terms: She refuses to be shamed by crude jokes.
Key Takeaway
Own your boundaries and respond with confidence.
Themes
power dynamics
sexual harassment
assertion
communication
Mood
defiant
confident
Type
dialogue
assertive
When to use this quote
- workplace
- social gatherings
- personal relationships
- negotiating consent
Key Concepts
gender politics
psychology
social interaction
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you maintain composure when faced with demeaning jokes?
- What strategies help you assert boundaries without escalating conflict?
A Different Perspective
The humor may mask deeper disrespect, limiting its effectiveness.
