Victim Blaming
Someone saying, implying, or threatening a person who has experienced harmful or abusive behaviour like it was a result of something they did or said instead of placing the responsibility where it belongs: on the person who harmed them, the abuser. When someone places the blame on a survivor, it invalidates their experiences, enhancing their feelings of isolation and self-doubt. Victim blaming may also discourage a survivor from speaking up again or seeking any form of justice or support through fear that they will not be believed.
Resources:
- Understanding victim blaming and why it’s harmful to survivors – Welsh Women’s Aid Org
- What were you wearing? A project to end victim-blaming