Why do people tend to blame victims for their own sexual assualts?

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   KrystalDposted 10 years ago

   Why do people tend to blame victims for their own sexual assualts?
   
   Rape shaming is a real thing and the case involving Bill Cosby has shown this ugly fact loud and clear. What are your thoughts about this?
   
   

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2. 84

   peachpurpleposted 10 years ago

   it is a shameful act for an actor but I think he has problems with his wife. Otherwise, he won't lurk at other women

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      ChristinSposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Problems with one's wife are not an excuse to be a rapist.

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   thranaxposted 10 years ago

   I enjoyed watching Bill Cosby and wish to forget the crimes he committed. I think people blame victims of crimes mostly as a sexual bias. Girls like looking hot and attractive and when hormones get kicking laws and human society crumbles.

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   peter565posted 10 years ago

   I don't think people usually blame the victim, but if the victim is been blamed, my guess is that she is a person whom for long time demonstrate behavior, that attract predators or easily mislead people she is giving them a sexual invite.

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      ChristinSposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      ?? So women who dress in a "provocative" manner are asking for it?  No, how a woman dresses is not an "invitation" and is not consent.

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   dashingscorpioposted 10 years ago

   I have not heard anyone "blame" any of the women involved with the Cosby allegations. There are those that hold onto the "innocent until proven guilty" mindset which many people find offensive for various reasons.
   However I would say that's a long way from blaming the victim!
   Is there anyone you know of who is blaming these women? or Is it a case of some people don't believe them that is being called "blame".
   In other instances it has become not politically correct to mention things that could have (possibly removed the target) off victims by being smarter. If I for instance downside to walk the streets of the South side of Chicago at midnight counting my money and get robbed, leave my car running with the keys in the ignition, sleep with the front door of my home wide open, or cross the street without looking both ways, accepting rides from strangers... none of these acts mean I deserve to be attacked/ taken advantage of.
   However if someone mentions ways I may have been able to reduce my odds of being attacked are they really "blaming me"?
   Admitting one has an obligation to look out for #1 is not blaming the victim. It's reiterating some commonsense measures.

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      KrystalDposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I agree about personal responsibility. I have read comments criticizing the women involved in this case. These have been on social media but not direct articles. You make a great point about blame versus not believing. Maybe I have misinterpreted.

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      Amanda108posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      You covered the points that I was going to mention: generally it's disbelief, not blame; also some people interpret acknowledgement of personal responsibility as blame, sadly. Nicely put! :-)

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      KrystalDposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I think people can stay victims in their own minds because they never acknowledge their own part in the process of them being hurt.
      I was raped at 14 years old. I still have trouble deciphering between blame and owning ones own lose of power.

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   4. 71

      dashingscorpioposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      KrystalD, Sorry to hear about your experience.
      Oftentimes when things happen to us when we're young we're not wise enough to recognize potential danger signs.
      We're much more trusting of people and situations.
      It was not your fought.

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