Ola was sexually assaulted.Upon reporting to police, she was questioned about whether or not she had been drinking, what clothing she was wearing, and if she had chosen to be alone with the individual who assaulted her. What is this an example of?
The way Ola is treated by the police when they ask her what she was wearing, if she had been drinking, and if she was alone with the person who hurt her is an example of victim blaming.
Victim blaming is when the person who hurt you is held responsible for what happened to you instead of the person who hurt you. When someone has been sexually assaulted, victim blaming is often done by questioning the victim’s actions or behaviour in a way that makes it seem like they are to blame.
Asking Ola what she was wearing, if she had been drinking, and if she had chosen to be alone with the person who attacked her suggests that she had something to do with the attack and not that it was all the other person’s fault.
Putting the blame on the victim can make survivors of sexual assault feel bad, like shame, guilt, and self-blame. It can also make survivors less likely to report the attack and look for help and justice.
In short, victim blaming is when the victim is blamed for the harm they have been through instead of the person who caused the harm. In the scenario described, asking Ola about her clothes, how much she drinks, and how she acts is an example of putting the blame on the victim.
see also
What Does “Not to Expose Patients to Undue Risk” Mean?
