Preview

Victim Blaming Is Self-Shaming

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
692 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Victim Blaming Is Self-Shaming
Victim Blaming is Self-Shaming The theory of feminism can help explain the reasons for unreported sexual assaults toward females. For instance, females strongly disagree with the perception of "rape culture". "Rape culture" is the act of subjugating women by disregarding the significance of sexual violence as a norm. Media being a powerful platform, is able to promote/obstruct numerous issues, including "rape culture", for example Robin Thicke's song Blurred Lines "I know you want it.../Can't let it get past me.../Talk about getting blasted.../The way you grab me/Must wanna get nasty..." (Thicke, 2013) stating a man has power over the decision making of a woman and he will continually harass her; this song promotes sexuality whether it is …show more content…
Females are underestimated to be vulnerable targets of sexual assault because of their gender and physique, according to a report "women and girls are the vast majority of sexually abused victims: nearly 1 in 5 women – or nearly 22 million – have been raped in their lifetimes, majority of the abuses being unreported" (Black, 2011). Through the viewpoint of a liberal feminist, men’s use of sexual force needs to be understood as a means of oppression and appropriation given by all men in order to subdue the fear of women; alongside it is the expression of male property rights over women (Domenico, n.d.). Similarly, females are constantly victimized as the main targets of intensifying sexual assaults. A stereotype would be "victim blaming", if the victim does not directly refuse/behaves flirtatiously and encouragingly/consumes alcohol/dresses provocatively/has numerous sexual partners it is assumed that ‘a female is at fault’ for showcasing her privilege to indulge in human activities (Hilt, 2014). “Unreported sexual assault [is] reconceptualized as a mechanism for maintaining male …show more content…
A rape myth is that society often blames females for dressing in a provocative manner which triggers an offender to sexualize them, making them the victims, but in reality women are viewed females as a sexual objectification, and this explains male dominance from a radical feminists perspective (Hilt, 2014). In Patricia and John’s journal, it showcases this opposing idea of women not contributing to their victimization rather it is an experience of feeling helpless, and not being in control of the situation (Donat, n.d.). These emotions of feeling exposed lead women to anguish about societal and cultural aspects of reporting rape (Odu et al., 2014).Moreover, the act of discrimination and law enforcement against women has began an outrageous dispute due to gender inequality. The documentary “India’s Daughter” by Leslee Udwin is based on the 2012 Delhi gang rape case, which was originally unreported from the victim, Jyoti Singh (Golodryga, 2015). In the documentary, offender Mukesh Singh says “It takes two hands to clap. A decent girl won’t roam around at 9 o’clock at night. A girl is far more responsible for rape than a boy”. Decency is a developed character trait that is not defined by a given curfew and a women working day shifts versus night shifts demands to be

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    Some members of society would rather victimize a rapist than to protect a victim because it is easier to act as if the issues of sexual harassment, assault and rape do not exist. Women are taught to how to avoid rape, however, young men are not taught how to not rape. The attitudes about these topics are the reason why the term rape culture is real and stronger than ever; from catcalling to slut shaming to being an innocent bystander, if people do not defend a victim they are adding to the problem simply because people begin to believe there is nothing wrong with the…

    • 1972 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Camille Paglia’s essay “Rape A Bigger Danger Than Feminists Know” discusses the controversial issue of rape, and argues that feminists have secluded the truth about sex from younger women. The essay was published in 1991 by the New York Newsday. According to Paglia, who has a Ph.D. in humanities, “Feminism keeps saying the sexes are the same. It keeps telling women they can do anything, go anywhere, say anything, wear anything. No, they can’t. Women will always be in sexual danger” (579). She mentions that woman are not physically incapable of doing whatever they desire, therefore, they should take extra precautions to ensure their safety. In support of her thesis, the author addresses the Northeastern campuses that have begun petitioning to raise awareness for what they call, “victims” (579). Paglia elaborates on how the punishment for rape has become less severe. In her days, accusers could be hung, knifed, or even sentenced to death for rape (579). She goes on to say that women will never have the opportunity to engage in…

    • 591 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Wiesel Interview Journal

    • 437 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The infamous 2012 Delhi gang rape in which the victim, Jyoti Singh Pandey, was raped and murdered, died from her injuries 13 days later. This made people questioned about women’s rights in India. The incident was widespread throughout India and worldwide, uprising the numbers of protests against the state and central governments. So, we know that there are uncountable crimes are occurring in the world, and many of them are not being report or uncover…

    • 437 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    Within the Hindu community there are multiple ways that women have become the property of the male figures in their lives, either it being their fathers, sons, and/or husbands. Traditionally, women are depicted as much more delicate that men, whom require the protection of her male figures. From a cultural perspective the woman’s virginity, while in her birth home, is one to be protected. Within the community these male influences are seen as the protectors, but in reality the woman is imprisoned. The refusal to speak about sexuality as well as physical and emotional changes that take place during growth years causes for many accounts of sexual abuse to go unreported. As a result of this the girl, whose mother has not spoken to her about basic issues like menstruation, is unable to tell her about a person who has made sexual advances towards her.…

    • 1553 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Locker Room Talk Analysis

    • 1511 Words
    • 7 Pages

    She says their views diminish the seriousness of sexual assault as a violent crime and buries the experiences of many girls and women in society. She states how research shows only a small percentage of men commit sexual violence but a large group of people would condone a man's actions. She claims sexual degradation is dehumanizing and contributes to the widespread sexism that keeps women from achieving many…

    • 1511 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The dominant feminist description for men’s violence towards women is that it is “essential to a system of gender subordination” (MacKinnon, 1989). Feminists argue that sexual violence is a man’s way of preserving male dominance and female subordination, which are fundamental to the patriarchal social order (Stanko 1985). It is argued that a range of sexual violence outlines the everyday lives of women (Kelly, 1988), and similarly Stanko (1985) establishes that the appreciation of physical and sexual security by women is so firmly merged with their concern for sexual integrity as to “render the concept of safety problematic for women” (Stanko, 1985). It is argued that the safety which women do actually have is not used to their advantage and…

    • 236 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The general stereotype in society as well as the claim of feminist criminologists is that “all men are violent and women are victims” (Treadwell 2006 p.96) however men are also vulnerable to victimisation but the ideology of ‘manliness’ could explain why male victimisation commonly goes unreported because of issues such as the embarrassment of ‘weakness’ reducing its exposure (Stanko and Hobdell 1993 as cited by Newburn 2007).…

    • 1087 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Best Essays

    Sexual assault occurs due to the stereotyped theory that powerful positions that men may have in society, this wider image of women living in a society which is dominated by men arises from past gender binaries. Most individuals seek to understand the several reasons why it is them that become victims of sexual assault or abuse. These unidentified reasons may vary from the fear of one leading this crime onto them, feeling that life is unfair and accounting for the…

    • 2355 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the case of the #MeToo, women began to share their stories in order to raise awareness and promote acceptance for talking about sexual abuse. The connecting thread between each victim’s experience was that there was an imbalance and misuse of power. Mills’s theory is heavily supported by the #MeToo movement. The history of sexual assault in the United States has stemmed out of the power that men feel they have over women, which has prevailed since the beginning of time. Women have always been thought of as just mothers or homemakers and nothing more. Over time, women have tried to change this stereotype by being part of the workforce and gaining the right to vote through the 19th amendment. Yet, this disparity between the equality of women and men are obvious in modern society though wage gaps and the daily pressures that society puts on women. Society is overly critical and inconsistent with their views about the way women should look, act, and behave. Women are often times made to be sexual objects, but at the same time expected to be conservative mothers. These unclear and absurd expectations of women lead to anomie in our…

    • 922 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Feminist Theory Of Crime

    • 1669 Words
    • 7 Pages

    The feminist criminological theory aims to understand minorities in race, gender socioeconomic status and many more and their intersection with one another and their relation to crime. In relation to interpersonal violence and gender, females are greatly underrepresented in studies- particularly regarding those who commit offences. As mentioned above this places a pressure on the legal system that does not know how to properly respond to these women. Feminist theories aim to bridge the gap between males and females in the criminal justice system and provide gender appropriate crime responses for all. Furthermore, breakthroughs discovered in feminist criminology regarding female crime and victimisation may assist in explaining male crime to some extent. Since feminist theory looks at all female crime and victimisation- including crimes involving males- reasons as to why males become victims of female assault and why they assault females are…

    • 1669 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Rape/sexual assault and domestic violence/violence committed by intimates are at the top of the list for crimes committed against women more than men. (P220) Our book states that women represented 89% of all sexual assault crimes and 79% of aggravated assaults. Many of the cultural myths are involved in overseas and third world countries which see women as possessions or less than worth compared to a man. In India, as well as Pakistan Dowry deaths which claim the lives of thousands of women are committed daily. These deaths are sanctioned as legal or usually overseen by law enforcement with payment. Dowry deaths are committed against a bride by either a husband or the husband’s family because the bride’s dowry was not paid as it was supposed to be. Wartime rape and batteries is also high in other countries and often overlooked in the judicial…

    • 1452 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Slut Walk

    • 2051 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Meera Kosambi starts her book ‘Crossing Thresholds’1 by stating that “the conventional and still popular notion of the ‘woman’s sphere’ carries with it the tenacious metaphor of the threshold, an image of restrictive, restricted, and dangerous periphery.” Whenever women strive to cross this threshold, men come up and try to suppress these women. This gave birth to the feminist movements. Feminist movements came up around 1960s. “Feminism is not just a movement for the liberation of women, but a broad social movement striving for the equality of each individual. Feminism emphasizes the importance of such values as co-operation, tolerance, nurturance, and the freedom for each person to achieve her or his potential.”2 Throughout history, women have rebelled against the pre- conceived notions of their inferiority through the feminist movements, trying to bring a change. However, “change is always viewed in conflict with tradition no matter how invented this concept itself might be.”3 Every transformation that women committed to has been antagonized by men. The cop in Toronto was simply following the custom when he said that “women should stop dressing like sluts” in order to avoid being raped. This paper discusses the campaign of ‘Slut Walk’ in the larger context of women movements. The first part elaborates on the concept of Slut Walk, whether or not it can be considered a social movement or not. The second part explains the course of the Slutwalk around the world, concentrating on India. The third part goes on to justify the need for this campaign, and its relevance in the larger context of feminist movements. The fourth part deals with the objections and oppositions which arose against Slut Walk. The fifth part discusses the legal reforms related to it. I Social movements are “organized efforts by a significant…

    • 2051 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Maybe there was a need for acceptance, affection, and intimacy (Groth, 1990). Also, they could have been physically or sexually abused while growing up. Insecurity about masculine identity would also be a reason and they may portray themselves with aggressive behavior. The offender’s behavior can be classified in to one of the following five categories which are the types of rapes: Power Reassurance, Power Assertive, Anger Retaliatory, Anger Excitation, or Opportunistic. Feminist also have their theories and they view rape as a violent assault that inflicts emotional as well as physical trauma on victims. They believe that rape lies deep within a society and culture dominated by male attitudes, values, and beliefs; it objectifies relationships with women, eschews female value and belief system, and limits female rights and opportunities. They also argue that rape has not been appropriately defined, investigated, or prosecuted correctly. Feminists have informed and retained their influence over time, and according to Scully and Marolla (1985), the interviews that were conducted to 114 convicted rapists in a Virginia prison, showed that the reason for rape was for rewards or justifications perceived by them included a mean exacting revenge or punishment, obtaining…

    • 1243 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    There is a public concern regarding the increase of sexual assaults on college campuses across North America, as between one-third and one-half of college men have reported committing some form of sexual assault towards a woman (Sutton & Simons, 2015, p. 2827). Moreover, the college community is uneased seeing that freshmen women are at a higher risk of being victimized (Orchowski, Untied, & Gidcyz, 2013, p. 940). Assaults have increased, with one in five college women have reported have experienced rape (Orchowski, Untied, & Gidcyz, 2013, p. 940), due to the insufficient and ineffectual preventive methods, as many campuses cannot agree on the definition of sexual assault. Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sexual assault is…

    • 171 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Double Standards

    • 873 Words
    • 4 Pages

    When a female victim goes to authorities for a sexual assault, she is immediately asked what she is wearing, as if her clothes determine her consent. The idea that women are somehow deserving of being sexually assaulted and/or raped for drinking or wearing a certain article of clothing is sickening. This same issue with rape and double standards applies to men as well. Male victims of rape are often ridiculed for their horrific experience, and their friends tell them that they are lucky to have had sex. Male victims are just as silenced as female victims, but in different ways. Women are victim-blamed for their assault, and therefore silenced. Men are silenced into accepting the rape as an orgasm and not the crime that it is.…

    • 873 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays