Why Society Should End Victim Blaming
Why Society Should End Victim Blaming
America is known as the land of the free and the home of the brave. Americans say these words loudly and proudly, with abounding patriotism and strong conviction. If this statement is true, victim-blaming should not be a part of American society. If Americans are truly free, should they fear being blamed for their victimization? If a woman is taken into a back alley and attacked, should she fear that her race will prevent action from being taken against her attacker? If a wife is forced into intercourse with her abusive husband, should she fear that a judge will rule that she provoked her husband’s actions? If a man is raped or abused by another man, should he fear being ridiculed if he speaks out? Are those who blame these victims truly brave? There are many who deny that this is a true epidemic, but studies show that victim-blaming is alive and well in American culture. Victim blaming is plain as to what it means; it is the act of blaming the victim of a crime, an accident, or abuse for the crime commited. Victim blaming can be implemented in many situations, such as a man wearing a nice suit in a sketchy neighborhood being blamed for being mugged, but is most commonly seen in the aftermath of abuse or rape. One of the more frightening aspects of victim-blaming is the encouragement it provides for the perpetrator of the crime. By scolding and demeaning the actions of the victim, the blamer has ultimately agreed with the perpetrator, and now condones the actions of the perpetrator. If said actions cause no consequence for the attacker, this leaves him or her with the unspoken permission to repeat the transgressions at a later date, either to the original victim or to a different victim. The victim-blaming is normally done for the comfort of the blamer, rather than for either of the persons involved in the attack (Ben-David, Ben-Nachum, and Idisis 104). The blamer is not always a family member or a friend, it could be
America is known as the land of the free and the home of the brave. Americans say these words loudly and proudly, with abounding patriotism and strong conviction. If this statement is true, victim-blaming should not be a part of American society. If Americans are truly free, should they fear being blamed for their victimization? If a woman is taken into a back alley and attacked, should she fear that her race will prevent action from being taken against her attacker? If a wife is forced into intercourse with her abusive husband, should she fear that a judge will rule that she provoked her husband’s actions? If a man is raped or abused by another man, should he fear being ridiculed if he speaks out? Are those who blame these victims truly brave? There are many who deny that this is a true epidemic, but studies show that victim-blaming is alive and well in American culture. Victim blaming is plain as to what it means; it is the act of blaming the victim of a crime, an accident, or abuse for the crime commited. Victim blaming can be implemented in many situations, such as a man wearing a nice suit in a sketchy neighborhood being blamed for being mugged, but is most commonly seen in the aftermath of abuse or rape. One of the more frightening aspects of victim-blaming is the encouragement it provides for the perpetrator of the crime. By scolding and demeaning the actions of the victim, the blamer has ultimately agreed with the perpetrator, and now condones the actions of the perpetrator. If said actions cause no consequence for the attacker, this leaves him or her with the unspoken permission to repeat the transgressions at a later date, either to the original victim or to a different victim. The victim-blaming is normally done for the comfort of the blamer, rather than for either of the persons involved in the attack (Ben-David, Ben-Nachum, and Idisis 104). The blamer is not always a family member or a friend, it could be
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