Why the False Narrative of Victim Blaming Makes Us Feel Safe

Victim blaming is when people hold victims of crime, accidents, or any negative event is responsible for their own harm, even when it’s obvious that they did nothing wrong. It’s rampant. Because for some reason, society loves to kick victims when they’re down - making a bad situation even worse.

And if the victim hasn’t developed mental health issues due to being victimized, they almost certainly will as the result of being victim blamed. So why is this false narrative so persistent, especially when it comes to women? Why do so many people tend to attack and blame the victim instead of the perpetrator? This criticism of victims is backward, but pervasive in our society.

Control

One of the biggest reasons that people point fingers at victims is because it gives them a sense of control over their own lives. By believing that victims brought catastrophe on themselves, it provides a comforting illusion that as long as we avoid certain behaviors, that if we don’t do what the victim did or said, that we ourselves can avoid being victimized. It's a defense mechanism and fantasy that allows us to believe that the world is just and predictable. This false belief allows us to ignore a lot of issues that don’t impact our world.

The Just World Hypothesis

According to this hypothesis, people have a strong need to believe that the world is an orderly, predictable, and just place, and people get what they deserve. This belief plays an important function in our lives since in order to plan our lives or achieve our goals we need to assume that actions will have predictable consequences. Then when we encounter evidence suggesting that the world is not just or predictable, we quickly act to restore justice: Either by helping the victim or by persuading ourselves that no injustice has occurred.

Maintaining Social Hierarchy

Historically, groups like women and minorities all over the world have been marginalized and oppressed. This has been accomplished and maintained, in part, through victim blaming. By holding these groups responsible for their own oppression, dominant groups look to maintain their power and absolve themselves of guilt.

Avoiding Personal Discomfort

Research published by the National Library of Medicine showed that people who have never experienced certain traumas, such as rape, are more likely to blame victims of those traumas. For example, the study showed that men (who are less likely to experience rape) are more likely to believe rape myths: The pervasive beliefs and attitudes that exonerate the perpetrator and blame the victim for her “allowing” herself to be raped.

It’s uncomfortable to confront the fact that bad things can happen to anyone, regardless of their actions. But by blaming the victim, people can distance themselves from the discomforting reality that everyone is vulnerable to events outside of their control.

#MeToo Upended Cultural and Social Conditioning

Over time, cultures and societies have ingrained certain stereotypes and beliefs into our collective psyche. Some of these stereotypes included the myth that rape was a rare occurrence that only happened to people who were somehow “asking for it.” Media, family, and peers have played a role in reinforcing these damaging cultural and social narratives, making it difficult to break the cycle of victim blaming.

The #MeToo movement, which began trending in October 2017, saw thousands of women, men and others posting the hashtag on social media to signal that they, too, had been a victim of sexual violence or assault. The #MeToo movement upended the “rare occurrence” myth - because the sheer number of people that posted about being raped proved that sexual assault is not an anomaly and that the victims (who came from all walks of life) weren’t “asking for it.” Nor is any victim of rape or sexual assault. Any victim.

Challenging Victim Blaming

Six years after the start of #MeToo, it’s critical to continue to recognize and challenge the roots of the biases and stereotypes in our communities. Because although society is more aware, little actual change (such as stronger laws or increased prosecution) has resulted, and victims are still being blamed. Let’s continue to create a more empathetic society where victims are supported rather than blamed. Education, open dialogue, and challenging biases are essential steps in this direction.

By understanding the roots of victim blaming, we can change the narrative and pave the way for a more understanding and supportive society where victims are heard and believed.