Victim Blaming and Its Impact on Victims of Sexual Violence

Sadly, it’s all too common for people to blame victims after a crime. They might ask, “What did she do to deserve this?” or, “Why was she attacked?” These questions can make survivors feel shameful, which in turn makes them less likely to speak up about their experience and seek justice. They may also feel like they will not be believed if they share their story, which can lead to post-traumatic stress, depression and health issues. Victim blaming is a problem that affects all of us, regardless of gender, crime type, age or community. It’s important to understand the impact that victim blaming has on victims so that we can work toward ending it.

It’s difficult to understand what victim blaming is unless you’ve experienced it firsthand. One of the most powerful ways that victims of sexual violence can be blamed is by those closest to them. When loved ones believe and support victims, they are more likely to be able to access the help and justice that they need. However, when a survivor is blamed by their friends or family, they can lose the trust that they need to heal and recover. They might even doubt that the people they trust, including the justice system, will support them.

This is largely because of the belief that we live in a just world and people get what they deserve. It is especially hard to believe that the people you know and love could be capable of hurting or harming someone.

In order to protect their own worldview, some individuals will turn to victim blaming to justify what they have seen or heard. This can take the form of making excuses for their abuser, such as saying, “He was drunk”, “She’s off her meds”, or “It’s only because of his job”.

Some will try to disavow victim blaming by emphasizing that they are not blaming the victim, but it is important to recognize that these statements have the same effect. Victim blaming is not only harmful to the survivor, but it can also deprive others of the empathy and understanding that they need.

The goal of this study is to replicate and extend previous research by analyzing various influencing factors that influence victim blaming and by looking for explanatory approaches therefor. This will be done by using vignettes of male and female sexual assault victims and measuring the subject’s perception of victim blaming through validated questionnaires.

There are many things that can be done to combat victim blaming, starting with being aware of how it manifests itself in your own life and avoiding environments where it is prevalent. Keeping your circle of friends and family close is crucial as these are the people you will have the most impact on. It’s helpful to be able to call out victim blaming when you hear it, if it feels safe to do so (for example, rape jokes) and to ensure that you are listening and believing to those who tell their stories of sexual violence.