Victim blaming is a widespread form of patriarchy. This behavior is seen all over the world. In society everywhere, women who are fighting against violence are blamed. Their characters are openly assassinated. The establishment of victim-blaming in society is one of the reasons why victims are given no choice but to shut their mouths whilst the accused keeps his life as he has lived before, works, and moves on. Let us talk about identifying victim-blaming and its reasons.
What is victim-blaming?
The act of blaming the survivor for all the wrongdoings that happened against them is known as victim-blaming.
Some victims and survivors of a crime are held completely or marginally responsible for what has happened to them through no fault of their own.
Scrutinization: The decision-maker
Scrutinizing victims based on what were they wearing or how late they had been out when the crime happened, has always been the favorite decision-maker of society.
Family's contribution
Victim blaming does not only start and end around the public stage, it has also been enrooted by families of the survivors.
Younger girls and suppressed women have been told by their mothers and brothers how to behave like a lady and how their clothes should be on point even if they are sleeping.
And when some crime happens against them, they are first been asked by their guardians if they were laughing too much?
Why it happens?
We live in a world where the biggest assumption that "people get what they deserve and deserve what they get" is one of the main reasons behind victim-blaming.
The other reason lies behind the sympathy given to the victims, such as prostitutes, women, and drug addicts who are often blamed for the "result of actions" or "asking for it" whilst the physically disabled persons, Juveniles, and mentally ill are given more sympathy.
Assuming that the victims have the ability to prevent the maltreatments and since they could not, we see ourselves stronger, smarter, and more privileged than they are, and therefore what happened to them can never happen to us, is psychologically traumatizing to the survivors.
ALSO READ | Societal pressure of being 'Manly' : To be Tough and Unfelt
ALSO READ | Strong and Healthy Social Ties and It's Benefits
