Spring Break
Column: Blaming the victim hinders sexual assualt awareness
Bridgette Blight
Issue date: 4/21/09 Section: Editorial/Opinion
04/21/09 - The Cigar published an editorial about Sexual Assault Awareness Month last week. While the advice given in the editorial might be helpful, it will not necessarily stop a rapist. Someone walking home alone would not be blamed for getting mugged, yet rape victims are sometimes told that it was their behavior that caused their attack.
This phenomenon is known as victim blaming. It can be attributed to the Just World Theory. The theory states that the world is just and fair, and people get what they deserve. When bad things happen, such as rape, some people must find a way to justify it so it fits this theory.
Victim blaming is often seen in popular culture. I recently saw it on the VH1 reality show "Tough Love," where matchmaker Steve Ward tries to help a group of women find love.
In one episode, Ward said something so out of line that, at first, I couldn't even believe it. He told Arian that if she didn't change her aggressively sexual behavior, she would end up raped.
The saddest part about this was that the other girls agreed with Ward. The approval of this kind of message by the people of VH1 is disturbing.
It also says something about how men are viewed in society. I find it hard to believe that men are horny beasts that just can't help themselves if a woman flirts with them. "No" means no. This should not be a difficult concept to grasp.
There are a myriad of other excuses that people use to blame victims. They often focus on appearance. It doesn't matter if a woman is wearing a short skirt or a suit, if she is alone or with friends, if she watches her drink or leaves it unattended, if she is timid or flirty. She is not to blame for her rape. Period. End of story.
Victim blaming cuts both ways. A woman can be too sexy and 'deserve' their rape, or be deemed not attractive enough to have been raped. Rape is not about sex. It is about control.
I'm glad that the editorial said that most rape victims know their attacker. It helps break down the view of rape as only something that can happen with a stranger. But it brings up other issues as well. Anyone can be a rapist. They can be someone you've just met or a good friend that you've known for years. There is no specific look that a rapist has that sets him apart. Victims should not be expected to have to know what a rapist looks like, yet they are often chastised for being attacked, especially by someone they know.
I could be sexually assaulted no matter what I do. I'm not going to drastically change how I live my life just to possibly stop it from happening. Even if I do all the right things and a predator leaves me alone, it doesn't mean that he won't try to rape someone else.
Organizations such as Men Can Stop Rape work toward getting both sexes to work together to solve this problem. We can all do our part by holding rapists, not their victims, accountable for their crimes. We can also speak out when we hear victim blaming. Unless these changes take place, rape will continue to be vastly underreported and many victims may blame themselves for their attacks.
This phenomenon is known as victim blaming. It can be attributed to the Just World Theory. The theory states that the world is just and fair, and people get what they deserve. When bad things happen, such as rape, some people must find a way to justify it so it fits this theory.
Victim blaming is often seen in popular culture. I recently saw it on the VH1 reality show "Tough Love," where matchmaker Steve Ward tries to help a group of women find love.
In one episode, Ward said something so out of line that, at first, I couldn't even believe it. He told Arian that if she didn't change her aggressively sexual behavior, she would end up raped.
The saddest part about this was that the other girls agreed with Ward. The approval of this kind of message by the people of VH1 is disturbing.
It also says something about how men are viewed in society. I find it hard to believe that men are horny beasts that just can't help themselves if a woman flirts with them. "No" means no. This should not be a difficult concept to grasp.
There are a myriad of other excuses that people use to blame victims. They often focus on appearance. It doesn't matter if a woman is wearing a short skirt or a suit, if she is alone or with friends, if she watches her drink or leaves it unattended, if she is timid or flirty. She is not to blame for her rape. Period. End of story.
Victim blaming cuts both ways. A woman can be too sexy and 'deserve' their rape, or be deemed not attractive enough to have been raped. Rape is not about sex. It is about control.
I'm glad that the editorial said that most rape victims know their attacker. It helps break down the view of rape as only something that can happen with a stranger. But it brings up other issues as well. Anyone can be a rapist. They can be someone you've just met or a good friend that you've known for years. There is no specific look that a rapist has that sets him apart. Victims should not be expected to have to know what a rapist looks like, yet they are often chastised for being attacked, especially by someone they know.
I could be sexually assaulted no matter what I do. I'm not going to drastically change how I live my life just to possibly stop it from happening. Even if I do all the right things and a predator leaves me alone, it doesn't mean that he won't try to rape someone else.
Organizations such as Men Can Stop Rape work toward getting both sexes to work together to solve this problem. We can all do our part by holding rapists, not their victims, accountable for their crimes. We can also speak out when we hear victim blaming. Unless these changes take place, rape will continue to be vastly underreported and many victims may blame themselves for their attacks.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Pete Santos
posted 4/26/09 @ 1:53 PM EST
Actually, that's not what Steve said on that show. He said she "could" end up getting an STD or getting raped. Her behavior is precarious to say the least and there is such a thing as provoking an attack. (Continued…)
Mac
posted 4/29/09 @ 4:30 PM EST
Give me a break. Steve wasnt blaming women for being raped. He was telling Arian the truth, and thats that her actions, whether deserved or not, have consequences. (Continued…)
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