victim blaming
Accusing the harmed
Victim blaming is holding victims responsible for harm done to them—suggesting their behavior, choices, or character invited the offense.
The concept arose from critiques of how rape victims were questioned about clothing or conduct: What was she wearing?
Why was she walking alone?
The term now extends to any situation where focus shifts from perpetrator to victim: Telling workers to budget better is victim blaming when wages are the problem.
Male-dominated social order
- misogynyHostility toward women
- sexismGender-based prejudice
- double standardUnequally applied moral code
- toxic masculinityHarmful rigid male norms
male privilege · objectification · rape culture · sexual harassment · domestic violence · intimate partner violence · coercive control · gender bias
Change in trajectory
- denialRefusal to accept reality
- rationalizationInventing acceptable motives afterward
- minimizationMaking as small as possible
- cognitive distortionBiased mental interpretation pattern
hindsight bias · revictimization · trauma · silencing · gaslighting · dismissal · invalidation · disbelief
Unfair inclination or prejudice
- stereotypeFixed oversimplified notion
- discriminationUnjust differential treatment
- preconceptionBelief formed beforehand
- assumptionUnverified belief accepted as true
misconception · myth · narrow-mindedness · bigotry · racism · sexism · classism · ableism
Loss of dignity
- disgraceLoss of honor
- stigmaMark of dishonor
- condemnationSevere disapproval expressed formally
- judgmentReasoned decision-making capacity
reproach · character assassination · slut-shaming · public scrutiny · purity culture · honor culture · social ostracism · gossip
Unfairly assigning fault to innocents
- unfairnessUnjust or biased treatment
- misjudgmentFaulty evaluation of something
- false accusationUntrue claim of wrongdoing
- miscarriage of justiceLegal system punishing the innocent
impunity · complicity · accountability · systemic failure · power imbalance · retaliation · cover-up · obstruction
patriarchy
Male-dominated social order
- misogynyHostility toward women
- sexismGender-based prejudice
- double standardUnequally applied moral code
toxic masculinity · male privilege · objectification · rape culture · sexual harassment · domestic violence · intimate partner violence · coercive control · gender bias · chauvinism
deflection
Change in trajectory
- denialRefusal to accept reality
- rationalizationInventing acceptable motives afterward
- minimizationMaking as small as possible
cognitive distortion · hindsight bias · revictimization · trauma · silencing · gaslighting · dismissal · invalidation · disbelief · interrogation
bias
Unfair inclination or prejudice
- stereotypeFixed oversimplified notion
- discriminationUnjust differential treatment
- preconceptionBelief formed beforehand
assumption · misconception · myth · narrow-mindedness · bigotry · racism · sexism · classism · ableism · homophobia
humiliation
Loss of dignity
- disgraceLoss of honor
- stigmaMark of dishonor
- condemnationSevere disapproval expressed formally
judgment · reproach · character assassination · slut-shaming · public scrutiny · purity culture · honor culture · social ostracism · gossip · rumor
scapegoating
Unfairly assigning fault to innocents
- unfairnessUnjust or biased treatment
- misjudgmentFaulty evaluation of something
- false accusationUntrue claim of wrongdoing
miscarriage of justice · impunity · complicity · accountability · systemic failure · power imbalance · retaliation · cover-up · obstruction · enablement
- Blamefault, culprit, accusation, guilt-tripping, finger-pointing
- wrongdoingmisconduct, crime, sabotage, crimes, misbehavior
- dirty trickscheating, lying, deceit, trickery, deception
- feminismfeminism, feminist theory, gender equality, women's rights, feminist novels
- rationalizationsdenial, minimizing, deflection, sour grapes, special pleading
- social illsracism, sexism, bigotry, prejudice, discrimination
blame, victim, blamed, blameless, blaming, self-blame, victimize, blameworthy, victimized