Good morning, friends!
I’m designing another bumper sticker that says “Stop
Blaming the Victim.” Behind those words are a background of
victim-blaming statements. This sticker will be teal, for Sexual Assault
Awareness Month – the statements blame the victims of sexual assault for what
happened to them.
Some of the statements are direct quotes I’ve heard from
survivors, or those who blame them. I’ve tried to make the statements
“other-blame” as well as “self-blame,” from both a male and female
perspective, from hetero and GLBTQ. This is what I have so
far:
- I’d never put myself in that situation.
- She shouldn’t have been drinking.
- He shouldn’t have been taking drugs.
- Why did I agree to go up to his room?
- I shouldn’t have agreed to let him in.
- I should have said “no” more forcefully.
- You shouldn’t have led him on like that!
- She has low self-esteem – that’s why she gets herself in
these situations.
- It’s not that big of a deal.
- Why was she wearing that outfit?
- She had sex with him before.
- He made out with the guy – what did he expect would
happen?
- She flirted with her all night – what did she expect
would happen? < /ol>
What other (short) victim-blaming statements should I put
on the sticker? What else have YOU heard that blames victims of sexual
violence?
If I use your suggestion, you get four free stickers once
they get printed. I’ll also be reprinting the purple “Stop Blaming the
Victim” sticker with statements that blame victims of domestic/dating
violence.
Many thanks – let’s keep raising our voices until the
violence stops!
Ben Atherton-Zeman: Feminist, actor, husband
Presenting a one-man anti-violence play “Voices of
Men.” Clips available at http://www. voicesofmen.org, booking
info at 978-897-3619.
Quote of the month, November 2010:
“If y ou rape a child who is a stranger and get caught, you will
probably go to jail. If you rape your own child and get caught, you
will probably get custody.” - Garland Waller, http://www.smalljustice.com. See
Garland, myself and many others at the Battered Mother’s Custody Conference
in Albany this January 7-9, http://www.batteredmotherscustodyconference.org/