The #METOO Campaign has raised awareness to sexual assaults that have been occurring over time. Victims from celebrities to friends and family have shared their stories of sexual assault around. This campaign has raised understanding of the continuing issue of sexual assault and rape that's occurring all around us.
Even though there is a tremendous amount of support for victims, we still have the occasional negative comments blaming victims for his or her assault. This is called victim blaming. Here are a few victim blaming comments and also the reality behind them.
1. “Maybe it wouldn’t have happened if she wasn’t drinking a lot.”
The consumption of drinking in no way influenced your choice to get sexually assaulted. In fact, it goes back to the fact that the perpetrator saw the person in a vulnerable state and took benefit of it. Why? Sexual assault is all about power and control. The perpetrator sees an opportunity to use their power to get what they need.
2. “It was because of what she was wearing.”
It wasn't that what article of clothing that provoked the sexual assault. No, it wasn’t the shirt or the skirt. On the contrary, one study demonstrated that most predators do not remember what the clothes the victims were wearing. It is going back to power and control.
3. “It happened due to where she was at”
The place of sexual assault is not marked on a map if it were, it would be avoided. Sexual assault can occur anywhere and anytime. It can occur in a classroom, on campus, or at an office.
4. “She wants the attention and it is probably lying. “
How many times have we heard this statement said across social networking? To set it straight there is actually more sexual assault that causes that don’t get reported to the police then there is of causes of false reports. More than 60 % of all sexual assault cases never get reported and only two percent of sexual assault reports are lies.
5. “It was all a misunderstanding between the two.”
There never a misunderstanding when you tell someone you don’t wish to accomplish something. It was not a mistake since the perpetrator knew what he was doing was not okay with a victim.
Statements like these can cause emotional damage to the sufferers. It is never the victim’s fault for just about any form of assault. It’s time we stop the victim also blaming and support victims. Everyone has the right to feel safe and supported.
