Victim Blaming

Victim blaming is an often unspoken, pervasive element of our culture that can be harmful to people who have experienced crime or other trauma. When someone criticizes a victim of a crime by asking questions like, “What could she have done differently?” or by arguing that the crime was “deserved,” they are participating in a type of devaluing that can lead to further distress for survivors and prevent victims from getting the help and justice they deserve.

There are a few different kinds of people who victim blame. First, there are those who have a vested interest in the victim being blamed (e.g., the rapist, their attorney, etc). They have a clear reason to be victim-blaming. However, another group of people engages in victim blaming even though they have no financial or other incentive to do so. This type of person is likely to be doing it because they find enjoyment in the suffering and misfortune of others, a psychological phenomenon known as Schadenfreude.

In one classic experiment, Lerner asked observers to watch a woman receive painful electric shocks as part of a memorization test. When a woman cried out in pain, observers attributed her discomfort to several internal factors, including that she was unprepared, inattentive, or over-confident. These responses were a result of the observer’s desire to preserve the experiment’s sense of fairness. This same kind of reaction is why some people find it enjoyable to see others suffer. They feel a satisfaction in seeing their worldview unravel, which leads them to rationalize what has happened by attributing the victim’s misfortune to her or his own actions.

Whether it’s a woman who gets mugged or a student who flunks a test, victims of any type are likely to be subjected to questions about what they could have done differently to avoid the situation. Moreover, these types of questions can make victims feel shameful and guilty about their experiences, and they may even lead them to refrain from seeking the help they need because they fear being blamed or judged.

Research also shows that victim blaming can vary by gender and ethnicity. Women that break traditional gender roles are more likely to be blamed, while white men are less likely to do so. Additionally, it’s been found that people who score high on a measure of everyday sadness are more likely to engage in victim blaming.

Despite the widespread prevalence of victim blaming, there are ways that individuals can counter it. By recognizing this form of devaluing behavior and calling out those who engage in it when they see it, we can take steps to change it. In the end, the best way to combat victim blaming is by reducing its prevalence in our society. This will not only reduce the amount of shame and guilt that victims experience, but it will also decrease the likelihood that perpetrators will escape justice by keeping their victims from seeking out the assistance they need.

What Is A Woman?

For many people, being a woman can be complicated. The expectations placed on women can be high and the struggles they face are real. From a monthly menstrual highlight to finding a balance between being healthy and sexy, women have a lot to manage on a daily basis. For some, the idea of what defines a woman is not always clear, especially if they were assigned male at birth or have a non-binary gender identity. Gender identity is a highly personal matter and should not be judged by others.

Prior to the last few seconds of human history, it was fairly uncontroversial what a woman is. Until now, the word woman was understood to mean an adult female human being with XX chromosomes, while men have XY chromosomes. This is why a woman could run a business and be a mother. Women have been able to achieve great things in society because of this.

But today, there are a lot of people trying to redefine what it means to be a woman. For example, Matt Walsh, a popular conservative commentator who works for Fox News, released a documentary called “What Is A Woman?” This film has received over 177 million views in less than a week on YouTube. Walsh interviews a variety of politicians, doctors, a professor, and a therapist and asks them to define what a woman is.

They give a wide range of answers, from vague to sexist. In one segment, a doctor claims that a woman is someone who has a uterus and menstrual cycle and can conceive children. The sexist statements in this film have led to backlash from the LGBTQ+ community and other women. The fact that some of the individuals interviewed in this documentary are willing to share their own sexist opinions about being a woman has also upset many.

While there are a number of problems with this documentary, the biggest issue is that it changes the definition of what it means to be a woman. In the past, being a woman was understood to mean having a gynecological reproductive system and the ability to have children. However, it’s now being defined as someone who is assigned to the opposite sex at birth and/or identifies as non-binary. This change to the definition of a woman is absurd and renders it meaningless.

Women have a lot to deal with on a daily basis, from balancing work and home life to dealing with hormones, expectations, and role models. This can be a challenge, particularly during times of crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, academic women leaders have had to juggle the demands of teaching, conducting research, running departments, making policies, and overseeing their faculty and students all while taking care of their own children and homes.

Although these challenges are difficult, it’s important to remember that there are a lot of advantages that come with being a woman. From being able to multitask to having more natural immunity, being a woman can be beneficial in the workplace. Companies are starting to realize this, and more and more women are being hired as CEOs.

The ACLU’s Women’s Rights Project Defeats Obstacles to Women’s Rights

Women are equal human beings and deserve the same rights and protection as men. They should be able to choose how they want to live their lives, without fear of violence or discrimination. They should be able to access legal aid and services when needed, and have a right to equal wages for work of the same caliber. They should also have the right to end abusive marriages and receive the support and resources they need to seek safety and a better future.

Gender equality is essential to building a free and fair world. Despite many strides towards equality, there are still many obstacles and barriers that need to be overcome. Through litigation, advocacy and public education, the ACLU Women’s Rights Project focuses on challenging these obstacles to women’s rights.

Throughout history, many countries have made important gains in the fight for women’s rights. For example, in the United States, women gained the right to vote in 1920 and in 1969 California became the first state to legalize no-fault divorce, making it possible for women to leave abusive marriages. In addition, laws have been passed that prohibit discrimination against women in the workplace and in areas of credit and loan approvals. These improvements have given more women the ability to gain financial independence.

However, progress in the fight for women’s rights has not been uniform across the country and around the world. Many states have not yet ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), which is an international bill of rights and obligations for all nations that recognize the fundamental equality of all women.

Furthermore, there are still a number of cultures and countries where patriarchal family structures and traditions perpetuate gender inequality. As a result, many women and girls do not have the same sexual and reproductive freedoms as men, including access to contraception and safe abortions and the ability to decide how many children they want and when to have them. They may be at risk of female genital mutilation, gender-based violence or forced marriage and are often cut off from educational and economic opportunities.

Despite this, the vast majority of Americans from both sides of the political spectrum believe that gender equality is an important issue and that more needs to be done to ensure women have equal rights with men. In fact, nine-in-ten Democrats and Democratic leaners say that it is very or somewhat important for women to have equal rights with men in the United States, while two-thirds of Republicans and Republican leaners agree. In addition, 76% of Americans think it is very or somewhat likely that women will eventually have equal rights with men. This shows that there is a strong desire for change in the way women are treated by society and that, with continued activism, this can be achieved.

Gender Equality Initiatives Must Be Grounded in Evidence

Many gender equality initiatives are rooted in good intentions. But if they’re not grounded in a clear evidence base, their effectiveness will be limited. The most effective initiatives understand that gender inequality is complex, nuanced, and inherently intersectional. They also acknowledge that key metrics such as representation and closing the pay gap are not enough to achieve lasting change.

They address the root causes of gender inequality by targeting laws, policies and practices that limit women’s opportunities in the workplace, at home, or in their communities. They also take into account the fact that, because of how we design systems and structures, some gender gaps will never close entirely.

For example, despite recent progress, girls’ access to education is still a serious challenge worldwide. Each year that a girl is kept out of school can affect her lifetime earnings. It also increases her risk of exploitation, poor health, and gender-based violence. Keeping girls in schools can have benefits for entire societies, from ending poverty to fighting climate change.

While the number of working women is increasing globally, the number of men in paid employment remains stagnant. This is due to a combination of factors, including a slower economic recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic and greater opportunities for men to work in informal economies like agriculture. Moreover, women tend to perform more unpaid household labor, such as caring for children and elderly family members, than men. This can leave them with less time to work for money.

Another factor that limits women’s opportunity in the workforce is societal norms. Social norms evolve with the development of a country, and in some cases, these changes can be rapid. However, in other cases, it is more challenging to change societal attitudes. Research has shown that educating boys and girls on gender equality and exposing them to (female) role models can shift their attitudes. These interventions may not be easy, but they are effective.

The good news is that lowering gender inequality can bring significant macroeconomic benefits, such as stronger economic growth and financial stability, more jobs, and less income inequality. But for these gains to be realized, political leadership, investments and comprehensive policy reforms must dismantle structural barriers that impede women’s progress.

Gender equality must be at the core of every national agenda, budget and institution. To make a difference, leaders need to create psychologically safe spaces in their organizations where employees can be honest about how their lived experiences and gender identities impact them at work. This requires strong leadership, investing in a diverse workforce and creating Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) to provide support. It also means addressing discrimination and harassment with zero tolerance, as well as creating an environment where women are encouraged to speak up. The best way to do this is through a culture of openness and accountability.

The Impact of Sexual Violence

Sexual violence is any kind of unwanted physical contact with a person’s body that takes place without their consent. This includes sexual assault, rape, stalking and voyeurism.

Survivors of sexual violence often experience physical and emotional harm as a result of their assault. This can include physical injuries, infertility, a sexually transmitted disease and trauma like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The impact of sexual assault can also be emotional, causing anxiety, depression or self-blame. It can impact the mental health of survivors’ partners, children, parents or friends. It can also have economic consequences, including financial and employment problems.

The causes of sexual violence are complex and vary across cultures, with many factors contributing to the problem. These can include culturally accepted stereotypes about gender, roles ascribed to men and women, and power hierarchies in families. Sexual violence can also be motivated by sexism, racism or a desire to dominate and humiliate a victim. The use of weapons, alcohol or drugs can also increase the severity and prevalence of sexual violence.

For victims of sexual assault, the effects can be life-long and have a major impact on their physical, social and emotional well being. The psychological impact of sexual violence is complex, and can include feelings of shame, guilt, anxiety, depression, anger, fear and PTSD. These feelings can lead to isolation and a lack of trust in people. They can also affect a survivor’s relationships with their family, friends, colleagues and community.

It can be difficult for survivors to come forward and talk about their experiences, and this is a major cause of why sexual assaults are so under-reported. Survivors are also often blamed for the assault, or told they should have ‘asked for it’, and this can be extremely harmful. It is important to remember that a person who has experienced sexual violence was never ‘asking for it’ – they may have been asleep, unconscious, drugged or scared, and did not have the freedom or capacity to make a choice.

Survivors of sexual assault can feel misunderstood by their loved ones, and this can make it even harder for them to seek help. There are many services available to help victims of sexual assault, and these are worth taking advantage of.

Preventing sexual violence is a personal responsibility, and everyone has the power to change the culture of acceptance and normalization of this behaviour. This can be done by promoting safe behaviors, healthy relationships and thoughtful policies. It can also be done by supporting and advocating for survivors of sexual violence, being an upstander (supporting someone who is being harassed or assaulted) and supporting the local advocacy groups that work on prevention.

Lastly, individuals can help by donating to and advocating for organisations that support victims of sexual violence, and by attending large parties with a group of trusted friends so they are not alone. Bystanders can also be a positive influence, by speaking up when they hear sexist jokes or victim-blaming language and by helping their friends to find safe ways to leave if they are feeling unsafe.

Victim Blaming

Victim blaming happens when someone ascribes the wrongdoing of another person to internal, personal characteristics, while overlooking other possible factors. It is a common human reaction to crime and victimization, but it can have serious consequences for survivors. It can compound their suffering, stigmatize them, and even make it harder for them to get the help they need. The good news is that it can be stopped with awareness, compassion and active support for victims.

It can take many forms, and can be direct or indirect. A teacher might tell a student they were at fault for being bullied online, or a doctor might ask the patient why they weren’t more proactive in reporting their sexual assault to police. More subtle examples include: an acquaintance saying to a friend that they were wearing “the right outfit” when they were raped, or a colleague telling their client they could have been more cautious when walking alone at night.

One of the biggest reasons victim blaming is so common is that people don’t have empathy for victims. This can be due to a lack of experience in similar situations, or simply a tendency to focus on their own needs and well-being rather than the feelings of others.

A lack of empathy may also be linked to a desire to feel superior or smug. This can be particularly true in cases where a perpetrator is a close friend or family member, which can lead to feelings of envy or schadenfreude (a German word that means joy in the misery of others). It may also be part of a personality trait called “narcissism,” where people are self-focused and lack the ability to empathize with other people.

Other factors can influence victim blaming, including cultural context and moral values. For example, people who are raised to believe that everyone deserves what they earn tend to engage in victim blaming more frequently than those who place a higher value on the rights and dignity of others. It may also be influenced by how relevant or similar a situation is to a person, with those who think it would be easy for them to be in a victim’s shoes being less likely to blame them (Gray, Palileo & Johnson, 1993).

Victim blaming not only compounds the suffering of victims and their families, but it can also prevent them from getting the help they need. It can encourage victims to stay silent for fear of being blamed, and it can make it more difficult for them to report crimes or seek justice. It can also reduce the accountability of those who commit harm, making harmful acts more likely to continue.

Understanding the Realities of Being a Woman

Women are a powerful force in society. They run a majority of households, are often the primary caregivers for children and elderly relatives, and are the backbone of the workforce. However, women still face a number of challenges in the workplace and in their personal lives. In order to combat these obstacles, women must learn how to speak up and take charge of their own lives.

Historically, the term “woman” has been used to refer to any adult human with XX chromosomes. But as the world around us changes, so too do our ideas about what it means to be a woman. Some people choose to define gender in more socially constructed ways, such as through femininity or distaffness, while others may simply prefer the term’s biological definition of female sex. For some people, these two ideas are completely compatible; for others, they clash.

While the debate over how to define a woman is a complex one, it should not be devalued or discarded as irrelevant. The fact is, there are as many different definitions of being a woman as there are women themselves.

The key to understanding the concept of womanhood is recognizing that gender is an identity, not a trait. It is a way of being that is influenced by a variety of factors, including culture, expectations, and feelings. For example, for some women, being a woman might include traditional femininity, while for others, it could mean challenging gender stereotypes or even being masculine in a world that expects otherwise.

This is why it’s important to ask a woman about herself and what being a woman means to her. It’s also a good idea to make eye contact while she is talking and try to gauge her reaction to what you are saying. This will help you build a connection with her and show that you are engaged in the conversation.

In addition to the personal definition of being a woman, there are economic and political reasons to understand the issues facing women. For instance, women are more likely to have less disposable income and lower levels of financial independence than men. Women are also more likely to suffer from health problems such as heart disease, depression, and anxiety. In addition, women pay more for things like mortgages and car insurance than men.

Taking the time to understand the realities of being a woman can help you feel more empowered in your own life and help you fight for equal opportunities. Whether you are a man or a woman, it is important to remember that gender equality is everyone’s responsibility.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Wire.

Women’s Rights Are Not Just About Women’s Rights

Across every country and age group, most people agree that it is important for women to have equal rights with men. In fact, majorities in 30 of the 34 nations surveyed believe that gender equality is either possible or likely within their lifetime. But there is a huge gap between public opinion and the reality on the ground. While women are making progress, they face discrimination and violence daily. In countries where laws on gender equality are in place, the law is not always respected. Police and judicial systems often fail to punish perpetrators, creating a climate of impunity. And poverty rates for women are still much higher than those for men.

As the International Women’s Day theme of “Pledge for Parity” reminds us, it’s vital to take concrete steps towards gender equality. It’s not just about women’s rights — it’s also good for society. The world is better off when women are fully engaged in the economy and able to make their own choices about when and how to have children. Women and girls who have a say in their reproductive decisions can avoid unwanted pregnancies, unplanned sex, and early births. And when women have equal pay with men, they can provide a better life for their kids, including education, healthy food, and opportunities that will benefit them throughout their lives.

These improvements have come about over seven generations of women’s organized and tireless efforts to improve their lives in all aspects of society: family, religion, business, government, politics, and the workforce. They have worked to advance their own interests in the most democratic of ways: through meetings, petition drives, lobbying, public speaking, and nonviolent resistance. The vast majority of these improvements have come about because of their own efforts.

Today, women are working in occupations that were considered unimaginable a generation ago: dentist, bus driver, veterinarian, airline pilot and phone installer to name just a few. And they are doing this in cities and isolated towns alike, despite the fact that only 30% of jobs around the world are open to women. Yet despite all this progress, there is still work to be done: in sub-Saharan Africa for example, 69% of countries limit women’s mobility and access to property.

When Americans are asked to identify obstacles that keep women from having equal rights with men, 77% say sexual harassment is a big problem; two-thirds say that women are not being given the same legal rights as men and that they don’t have enough seats at the table in government and business. A smaller percentage cite other issues such as different expectations for women and men (66%), lack of affordable child care (53%) and family responsibilities (36%) as major obstacles. A small percentage cited the physical differences between men and women (2%) and the fact that some people have misogyny in their hearts (17%).

Gender Inequality in the Workplace

Throughout the globe, women are underrepresented in senior leadership positions. Ask people to explain why and they usually mention some combination of factors: Women’s devotion to families, women’s penchant for opting for part-time work or internal-facing roles that don’t move their careers forward, the fact that men tend to take more risk in the workplace and be considered “leadership material,” and a pervasive mindset that holds that the right career path is the one that involves climbing a corporate ladder while remaining “fun.”

The reality is that gender inequality exists in every industry, at all levels of business. While there have been improvements in some areas, such as enrollment in secondary and tertiary education, substantial gaps persist in others, including labor force participation and pay. And a host of social and economic shocks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters, can further entrench pre-existing gaps by making it even harder for women to access jobs or find financial security (see graphic).

Many of these gaps are the result of discrimination against women. The good news is that laws and policies to end such discrimination have a strong record of success. This includes laws requiring equal wages and rights in employment, promoting awareness of gender issues, and educating women about how to combat discrimination in the workplace. But gaps also remain because of other forces — the more subtle and implicit, such as a culture that views men’s work as “harder” than women’s, and a tendency for everyone, both men and women, to ignore or revert to old ways of thinking once new opportunities appear.

In addition, the pace of closing gender gaps has slowed in recent years. This may be due to a combination of factors, such as women’s growing preference for flexible work arrangements and other ways to balance their family responsibilities with their professional lives; the slowdown in global economic growth; the fact that countries have varying levels of progress in fighting discrimination; and external events that can cause setbacks, such as health and climate crises, political turmoil and war (see graphic).

Gender inequality has a direct impact on the bottom line of businesses. Companies that invest in gender equality can expect to see improved productivity and greater employee satisfaction. Gender diversity initiatives in the workplace can include targeted recruitment efforts, training and mentoring programs, and open communication about the importance of a diverse workforce.

The OECD Gender Data Portal provides selected indicators on gender inequality in formal and informal laws, social norms, and practices, covering 160 countries. It’s an invaluable tool for research, policy development and decision-making to help accelerate the decline of gender gaps that have less to do with laws and regulations and more to do with attitudes. This type of change requires policies and their designs to be more nuanced and targeted. And it will likely take more time, as the results are slower to emerge compared with changes in observable outcomes such as school enrollments and labor force participation.

Victim Blaming

Victim blaming is an unhelpful reaction to crime, tragedy and hardship. Rather than empathising with and supporting survivors, people who victim blame place the responsibility for their trauma on victims, often by blaming their behaviour, circumstances or culture. It is an attitude that contributes to the cycle of abuse and deprives people of the empathy, support and justice they deserve.

In its most extreme form, victim blaming is the type of commentary heard in the wake of terrible events such as the murders of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile by police officers or the rape of Jennifer Willoughby by her husband Rob Porter. But it also takes place in more subtle and unconscious ways. Any time a person who has experienced a traumatic event starts to ask what the victim could have done to prevent their experience, they are engaging in some degree of victim blaming. Even something as simple as hearing about a burglary and thinking to yourself, “I would have been more careful in that situation” is an example of victim blaming.

The reasons for victim blaming are complex. Some of them stem from a lack of empathy, while others are tied to societal beliefs and values, such as racism and misogyny. The media and public have a strong role to play in perpetuating this distorted way of viewing victimhood and its causes.

As such, it is critical that media outlets and people of influence take a stand against victim blaming. But it’s equally important that they encourage a more compassionate and empathetic approach to these topics.

This starts with a willingness to challenge the language used, especially by younger children and young people who are still developing their literacy skills. In particular, challenging the language of shaming and victim blaming when discussing risk taking behaviour online is crucial. This might include explaining that if you share a nude image of yourself with someone you don’t know, it may be seen by other people without your permission.

When victim blaming is seen as acceptable and normal, it can make victims less willing to report crimes or to seek help. This silences victims, who can’t speak for themselves, and deprives society of the vital data that crime prevention depends on.

In order to reduce the incidence of victim blaming, we need to understand the reasons for it. It’s a human response to tragedy, but it can lead us down dangerous paths, including believing that bad things only happen to bad people and that we can protect ourselves from becoming victims by assuming that we won’t ever be victimized. The reality is that, no matter how cautious we might be, it’s possible for any of us to fall prey to a mugger or rapist. That doesn’t mean that we owe them a moral debt for their actions, but it does mean that we need to rebalance the scales and stop treating people like they are their own worst enemy.