Blame. Shame. Silence. The toxic cycle of victim-blaming must be broken.
In a devastating reality, the moment women who are victims of gender-based violence share their story, a sinister shift often occurs. The focus inexorably moves from the perpetrator’s heinous act to the victim’s character, choices, and credibility. What were they wearing? Had they been drinking? Were they walking alone at night? What did they do to annoy the aggressor? These questions— implicit or explicit— convey a damaging message: if the victim had acted or dressed a certain way, they would not have been violated. Ergo, they are to blame.
Every year, victims of crime and abuse face a secondary trauma: victim blaming. For International Day Against Victim Blaming, we aim to raise awareness about the devastating consequences of victim blaming and promote a culture of empathy, support and true justice.
“At the police station one of the officers asked what took me to where I was raped. I don’t want to go to court… If it gets to my family, everybody will be talking about it. Any little thing I do, they will bring it up.” – Chloe, 26.
The devastating reality of victim blaming
While rape remains at an epidemic level in Nigeria, there are no accurate statistics on its prevalence due to the lack of proper data collection and keeping techniques. However, experts estimate that for every case of gender-based violence reported, up to 90% more remain unreported. One of the reasons for this barrier to reporting is the culture of victim blaming.
It’s a practice that shames, silences, and re-traumatises those who have already suffered. And yet, it remains a deeply ingrained aspect of our culture, perpetuated by individuals, institutions, and societal norms.
Women who accuse men of gender-based violence often face a barrage of stigma, criticism, and victim-blaming. The still-ongoing, high-profile case of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is a stark example. After the senator courageously spoke out about enduring sexual harassment from the Senate president, the focus inexplicably shifted from the perpetrator’s actions to her personality.
The Deputy Chief Whip, Senator Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, condemned Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, claiming she was “young and not decent.” Critics further accused her of being a narcissist, and they claimed that she focused more on wearing transparent clothes to Parliament and applying makeup than on performing her legislative duties.
This approach employs a classic trope of victim-blaming, where perpetrators and enablers malignantly scrutinise the victim’s character to discredit their allegations rather than confronting the substance of the claim itself. And we have seen them do it over and over again.
The many faces of victim blaming
A report by Amnesty International, “Nigeria: A Harrowing Journey; Access To Justice for Women and Girls Survivors of Rape” covers harrowing cases of gender-based violence against women and girls, between the ages of 12 and 42 years. This report made clear connections between victim blaming and the prevailing culture of silence and impunity, hindering women and girls from reporting their cases and getting the justice they deserve.
It occurs in our daily conversations and social media comments. This can include making negative comments or jokes about the victim, asking invasive or insensitive questions, and probing the victim’s behaviour or choices.
Bola, who had been raped by her neighbour, went to a police station to report. She told Amnesty International that some police officers at the station began to question and blame her.
“Why would you allow a man to rape you? If it was my daughter, she wouldn’t have done this. It seems like you were enjoying it… Very soon you will get pregnant for the rapist.” – Bola, a 21-year-old survivor.
Using language that blames the victim, questions their credibility, and making assumptions or comparisons can also perpetuate victim blaming.
During interviews with Amnesty International, some survivors reported that police officers’ toxic attitude towards gender-based violence discouraged them from seeking justice, as officers subjected them to humiliating lines of questioning and victim-blaming.
A neighbour brutally raped 14-year-old Onyinye while he fixed her mother’s phone. When Onyinye and her mother courageously reported the crime to the police, they were met with shocking abuse: a female police officer slapped Onyinye, pulled her ear, and shamefully scolded her mother for not raising her daughter ‘properly’.
Staying silent also fuels the cycle
A subtle yet equally insidious form of victim-blaming is staying silent in the face of victim-blaming or sharing content that perpetuates it, which can be just as damaging as explicit blame. Our silence or actions can undermine efforts to create a supportive environment for victims and perpetuate a culture of victim-blaming.
The fear of not being believed or worse, and being blamed for being raped isilences survivors and prevents them from seeking justice.
“I did not report to the police. When you go there to report your case, you end up being labelled a liar or attention seeker or that you enjoyed it… I do not trust Nigeria’s justice system at all.” Lucia, 26 years old.
Breaking the cycle of blame
When we blame victims, we perpetuate injustice and exacerbate the trauma they experience. It dissuades victims from reporting crimes, perpetuating rape culture and misogyny, and undermining the pursuit of justice. Ultimately, it degrades victims and invalidates their experiences, thereby causing lasting damage.
Victim blaming is a betrayal of trust. It’s a betrayal of the trust that victims place in us to believe, support and protect them. To combat this, we must work together to create a culture that prioritises empathy, understanding, and support for victims.
We must listen to and believe victims without judgment, hold perpetrators accountable for their actions, and advocate for policies and laws that protect victims’ rights. Only then can we create a society that values and supports victims, rather than blaming them for the crimes committed against them.
Victim blaming is not just wrong; it is a dangerous threat to our safety, our well-being, and our humanity. And it is time for us to take a stand against victim blaming.
