Victim blaming occurs when an individual questions a person’s experience, such as their actions and how they could have prevented sexual violence. Examples of victim blaming include “what were you wearing,” “why didn’t you say anything earlier,” or “you were sending mixed signals.” Victim blaming is implying that a person deserved what occurred to them, which is not okay. The reality of sexual violence is that it occurs because someone chose to take advantage and cause harm. Victim blaming discourages survivors to speak out about their experiences. Victim blaming allows perpetrators to get away with their actions. It is important to stand up to victim blaming comments. Show your support to survivors by stating that you believe them. You validate their experience and empower that individual.
RAINN provided important statistics highlighting sexual violence.
- Someone is sexually assaulted in America every 68 seconds.
- 1 out of 6 women have been the victim of attempted or completed rape.
- 1 out of every 10 rape victims are male.
- Those in Indigenous communities are twice as likely to experience rape/ sexual assault compared to all races.
- Sexual violence occurs in the military and often goes unreported.
- Sexual violence affects thousands of prisoners across the country.
For more information, please see RAINN.org.
Below I have attached a great video that provides more information and scenarios to understand victim blaming.
Written by Denisse Ochoa, BA Sociology Candidate at University of Wisconsin-Parkside, ZCenter Outreach Intern
ZCenter aims to end sexual violence, mobilize and educate the public, and support survivors of sexual assault. Our blog addresses issues related to ending oppression and violence, since all oppression and violence are intersectional with sexual violence. All ZCenter blog posts are written by state certified staff, interns, and volunteers. For questions on authorship or content, please email info@zcenter.org.