Battling Victim Blaming

One of the biggest struggles when confronting sexual assault and rape are the attitudes and misinformation manifesting into acts of victim blaming.  Its origins can rise out of malicious sexism or subtle myths that have been perpetrated for years.  It shames victims from coming forward and reporting an attack, pushing onto them the idea that what happened was their fault.  Victim blaming also removes guilt from an assailant, telling them they weren't in control of their actions and that a victim caused them to do it.

Nobody would ever blame a bank for being robbed, saying it was their fault for having cash on hand, yet victims of sexual violence often face judgement for being a victim of a crime.  They hear things like "what was she wearing?  How much did she have to drink?  Who was she with?  What was she doing there? She should have known better."  Even child victims are put through this scrutiny, being accused of talking to a stranger or not doing what they were told regardless of the facts of an abduction.

Even people who are trying to help by offering their "safety tips" can put more pressure on victims.  Telling women not to wear dresses or to cut their hair because it attracts rapists makes it sound like the attacker has no control.  It also tells victims "that's where you screwed up" when none of those factors contributed to the assault.  These "tips" tell a victim if she reports the crime, she won't be treated with respect.

So how do we fight victim blaming?

Education:  By educating people on the facts of sexual assault and dispelling the myths, we help people understand sexual assault is not a crime the victim caused but the choice and actions made by the assailant.

Bystander Intervention:  If someone makes a statement that sounds like victim blaming, take the time to inform them of the facts.  Ask them how whatever the victim did could physically make someone commit a rape or if they feel the victim deserved to be raped.  The truth is most people have never thought that much about sexual assault and just repeat things they've heard.

Empathy for Victims:  By showing empathy for victims of sexual assault, we can help them feel safe from judgement and understand the attack was not their fault.  It will also show them there is someone who supports them and that they are not alone.

If each of us take the time to do one of these three things, we can create an atmosphere where victims can feel safe and where perpetrators know their actions won't be tolerated.