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Blaming the Victim

In: Social Issues

Submitted By saraholman22
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Pages 5
Blaming the Victim
Sarah Schwartz
Baker College
Comp 101

Blaming the Victim 1 in 4 women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime (safehorizon.org). Domestic violence is a pattern of behavior used to establish power and control over another person through fear and intimidation, often including the threat or use of violence. I am that 1 of 4 woman who have experienced an abusive relationship. I was always asked why I didn’t leave or why I didn’t say something, instead of my abuser being asked why. Women are always asked why didn’t you leave, why did this happen, or why didn’t you say something. This can also be called victim blaming. Most of society thinks focusing on the victims of an abusive relationship will help them understand why it happened, but in reality they should focus on the abuser to understand why. Society does a lot of victim blaming, whether it is the news, police, court system or the victims own family. They focus is on the victim rather than focus on her perpetrator. Take the nationally known story of Janay Rice (pro football player Ray Rice’s Wife), the news and social media immediately focused on Janay, rather than her husband (the abuser). She was called weak, asked why she didn’t leave and even accused of covering for him. The only focus on her husband was what this means for his football career and endorsements. When I saw these reports I on the other hand, was upset and wondered why he did what he did. Society doesn’t realize that when you blame or accuse the woman that this is why a lot of abused women don’t come forward. When the blame in on the victim, it is reinforcing what her husband (or abuser) has said all along, that it is her fault the abuse happened (southernct.edu). The criminal justice system is normally a way for the woman to get her side of the story out or for her to finally

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