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Kaitlyn Dancer

Zachary Gregory

English 1201

19 July 2020

“ Well Maybe If You Didn’t Dress Like That….”

Let’s say you bought your dream car that has the perfect mileage, a sunroof, your favorite

color, and a custom set of rims. And you are proud of this car. You worked overtime for months

to save up for this, and it is finally yours. And one day, you are driving to work on the same road

for the one-hundredth time, nothing unusual. And then, someone runs a red light and slams into

your passenger side. Your brand-new car is on fire, absolutely totaled. So, you call the police and

they arrive and immediately start asking you questions. They ask you what you were wearing,

what you were doing, who you were with if you were drinking, and why you were driving. You

are confused, and you say “No, he hit my car. It was his fault. I am the victim!”

But the police officer keeps questioning you, asking you questions that should not apply

to you. You feel angry, confused, and you feel like the officer is blaming you for the accident.

This example is how millions of women feel when they stand in front of a courtroom and tell the

judge they were raped. In response to reporting rape, these women and girls are brutally

questioned about what they were wearing, doing, and drinking. This research paper will discuss

how women are disproportionately victims of rape and why they are often blamed for not

speaking up.
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The example given above is known as victim-blaming. Victim blaming “is when victims

of crimes or tragedies are held accountable for what happened to them” (Cherry). While victim-

blaming occurs mostly in rape and sexual assault cases, it is also common in robberies, grand

theft auto, and kidnappings. In court, the defendant's attorney will ask the victim questions like

“well, why were you drinking and walking home alone?” or “did you let the defendant kiss you?

Did you like it?” If the victim answers honestly, she is immediately subjected to being

questioned by the entire courtroom.

In some cases, the judge will even rule rape as sexual misconduct or sexual assault, if the

victim admits she was drinking or wearing “revealing” clothes. This is especially a big issue in

rape cases because several individuals believe if a female wears short skirts or low cut shirts that

reveal cleavage, they are “asking for it,” which is stating that the women are asking to be raped.

Some may even accuse a female of “being a slut, teasing, dangling a carrot, or suggestive

behavior.” The Independent performed a survey and found “55 percent of men believed that the

more revealing the clothes a woman wears, the more likely it is that she will be harassed or

assaulted.”

Every state has different qualifications for what qualifies as rape and what does not, with

different laws. Criminal Defense Lawyer provides details about these laws by explaining,

“sexual assault laws regarding rape and criminal sexual penetration are classified as as a felony

with serious penalties. Many states have degrees of the crime, such as a rape in the first and

second degree, depending on the vulnerability of the victim, the type of force used, whether the

rape resulted in serious bodily injury, and whether it was committed with a deadly weapon, such

as rape at gunpoint.” In simpler terms, the severity of the punishment depends on the several

factors that took place in the case, including race.

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For example, a white man may only serve 4 years for raping a woman while she was

unconscious, but a black man will be sentenced to life if he rapes a female while she was

unconscious. In Ohio, rape and sexual assault are considered a felony. “The circumstances of the

offense determine the level of felony, which in turn determine the penalties that apply to the

crime” (Steiner). In other countries such as Saudi Arabia, rape and sexual assault are punishable

by death.

An excellent example and probably the most infamous case of victim shaming would be

the Brock Turner case. “On January 18, 2015 at Stanford University, Chanel Miller had gone to a

party with her younger sister Tiffany, and like any other party, they drank, danced, and had a

good time. In the wee hours of the morning, college student Brock Turner raped Chanel while

she was unconscious. Turner was charged, released the same day after posting bail, and was

eventually released from prison after serving only three months in jail” (Elia). This ruling

sparked a large controversy throughout social media. The evidence was obviously rape, the

victim was not lying, so why did he get off so easy?

Turner’s father then proceeded to write a letter defending his son’s actions, stating that

his son should not have to go to prison for “20 minutes of action.” In response, judge Aaron

Persky said “Turner’s lack of a criminal record persuaded him to be more lenient” (Hunt). On

social media, a photo of the letter was posted, and Turner’s father mentioned his son’s growing

depression, and his lack of appetite for his favorite food, which was steak. Even though Miller

was above the legal age to consume alcoholic beverages, she was victim shamed for the rape

because she could not remember any details or memory of the night due to drinking and passing

out. This allowed inequality to worm its way through and lessen Turner’s punishment from up to
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ten years to six months (or actually three months) because now, all eyes are narrowed at her for

“not knowing her limit.”

The history of gender inequality dates back even as far as before slavery. Several black

women who were slaves were often treated as sex objects for the white slave owners. They were

routinely raped and sexually assaulted, often resulting in the slave bearing a bi-racial child,

which would sometimes be killed by the owner. If the owner decided to let the child live, he or

she would also be the subject of sexual torture. “Young slave girls were also forced to sleep in

their master’s bed so they could be used at any time of the night” (The Slave Experience). In

some parts of the South, white women and slaves were both treated as property and sex objects.

This continued long after slavery was abolished, as women were still seen as property and rather

as things instead of people. Even today, millions of women and young girls are tricked or forced

into sex trafficking rings and sold across the world as sex objects for men.

In the 19th century, women were unable to do practical things. Taking birth control,

voting, filing for divorce, wearing pants, joining the military, or working is just a handful of

examples of the gender inequality women faced several years ago. In commercials, magazines,

and older movies or television shows, “white women are often seen as cleaning the house, taking

care of the children, and preparing meals for the husband that comes home from a twelve-hour

shift. Black and African American women were rarely portrayed at all” (Khan). These are strict,

traditional gender roles are still a challenge to overcome today. Several non-working women

conform to the idea that they belong in the kitchen while their husband belongs on the battlefield.

Even today, it is frowned upon when a woman is considered to be doing “man’s work”, (joining

the army, hunting, etc).

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Another victim-blaming example would be the Cyntoia Brown case. Cyntoia was a

sixteen-year-old runaway girl who was sold into sex slavery by a pimp known as ‘Kuthroat.’

Over the span of a few weeks in hotel rooms, he repeatedly raped, molested, and beat Cyntoia. In

some instances, she was also repeatedly raped by a few of her pimp’s friends while she was

unconscious. “She was walking near at a fast-food restaurant and shortly began engaging in

conversation with 43-year-old Johnny Allen, who offered to buy her snacks and pay $150 for

sex. Back at his house, Allen began showing her his gun collection, which made Cyntoia fear for

her life. She shot him in self-defense.

“With a gunshot wound to the back of his head, Allen was later found nude in bed, but

his hands were folded underneath his head” (Hodal). Brown was sentenced to life imprisonment

at sixteen years old due to her troubled past, the murder, and the robbery of her victim. The fact

that she was a minor sold into sex slavery went completely over the jury’s head, and it was not

until singer Rihanna began advocating for her freedom in 2017 for the Tennesee legal system to

reconsider Brown’s appeal. If Brown’s clemency was denied, she would not have been eligible

for parole until she was 69.

These examples above expose the brutal reality of women who suffer from the

consequences of rape. Furthermore, women who choose not to speak up about being raped are

subjected to more traumatic experiences. PTSD, nightmares, anxiety, depression, risky behavior,

and the use of drugs/opiodes are just a handful of long-term effects a victim of rape can go

through as a result of rape. People often say “Well if it were me, I would have screamed for

help,” or “I would have fought back, you should have too, so in a way it is kind of your fault.” In

simpler words, this is indirect victim-blaming. “This kind of thinking instantly makes the victim

feel uncomfortable if they feel society is blaming them for their assault. This belief gives power
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to the abuser by not holding them accountable for their actions and instead casting that blame on

the victim” (Karlos).

The first person to suggest the fruits of victim blaming would be psychologist and

sociologist Willian Ryan. In his book “Blaming The Victim”, Dr. Ryan elaborated upon the

phrase “victim-blaming” as ''justifying inequality by finding defects in the victims of inequality”

(The New York Times). The book also discusses social injustice as well as racial injustice, and

poverty, along with the myths surrounding it.

Often, victims of rape and victim-blaming are seen as spiriling down into a drain full of

increased shame and guilt. Victim blaming alone can increase several risks, like suicidal

thoughts or actions, increased anxiety, eating disorders (eating too much, too little, or none at

all), and depression. Sometimes, women will engage in risky behavior like consuming opioids,

prositition/sex trafficking, and other crimes.

So, the question of why still surrounds the original question “Why do people victim-

blame females who choose to not speak up about being raped?” There is no concrete evidence or

facts that points to one specific reason as to why people victim blame rape victims. There is

always the most common (and sometimes inaccurate) phrase “everything happens for a reason.”

But that is a phrase that provides little to no information as to why people are victim-blamed.

There is a sociological point of view that several individuals choose to believe.

From a functionalist point of view, functionalism “sees society as a structure with

interrelated parts designed to meet the biological and social needs of the individuals in that

society” (Lumen). In simpler terms, the many different parts of society work together to create
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and maintain stability. In regards to rape and sexual assault, these create a roadblock in society

and can disrupt the stability.

On the other hand, one might argue that functionalism views rape culture as a social

problem caused by the natural evolution of society. The theory further shows that sexual assault

is a social problem in society, can work to some extent, and indeed has relative importance to the

economy. A lack of empathy is definitely something that can be considered when people victim-

blame others. People are very quick to be judgemental and point out others' mistakes. It is easy to

imagine what someone would have done in a traumatic situation, but it is easier to shun someone

for what they did not do, or what they should have done.

Something else that people do not tend to consider is sometimes rape victims are forced

into silence. Rapists will threaten with bodily harm to the victim if they breathe a word to their

family and friends. If it is a child, rapists will often bribe them with candy, money, jewelry, and

expensive gifts like laptops and cell phones to keep them quiet. This is a tricky circumstance to

bring up in court. If a female explains she did not speak up about being attacked because she

liked the expensive gifts they received in exchange, she is now at risk for being victim-blamed. If

it is a child, it is more acceptable for her to admit she liked the candy or the gifts, but if it is a

grown or teenage female, she is blamed. People will say “Well it does not sound so bad if you

liked the gifts you received.”

Sometimes, these females who accept the gifts may not have anything to their name.

Girls who are sex trafficked, homeless, poor, or runaways will accept clothes, drugs, money,

jewelry, and even tampons, pads, and condoms, because they often have nothing, including basic

necessities, so they will accept anything when they can. Girls and women who are threatened to
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keep quiet are also at risk for victim blaming. Once again, it is more acceptable for a child to

believe that their rapist will murder their entire family if they tell someone they have been raped,

but a grown female is victim blamed if she believes the same thing. Ironically, sexual victim-

blaming is most commonly received by other women.

Furthermore, gender inequality is deeper than unequal pay. While it is rare to hear a male

individual is raped, it is even more rare to hear he was victim-blamed. Of course, men are not

slut shamed for wearing their jean shorts too short, and criticizes their T-shirts exposing their

cleavage. Not to mention, male rape is most common in prison penetentionaries and often goes

unnoticed and unreported, so the gender statistics are most likely inaccurate.

The phrase “Well maybe if she did not dress like that” is also commonly used in rape

cases. This implies that women who wear revealing clothes should deserve to be raped, because

it is acceptable for a man to act upon his urges. In most public schools, females are prohibited

from wearing clothes that expose the shoulders, and shorts have to be below fingertip length.

This also implies that if a female student wears a crop top with shorter shorts, she is willingly

subjecting herself to the risk of being raped.

The female breasts are also considered to be sexual objects, and not something just a part

of motherhood. If a female breastfeeds her child in public, it is considered “socially acceptable”

for her to be raped, because “her breasts are exposed in public.” This kind of thinking also dates

back to earlier times when men were seen as working men and the fact that “they just cannot

help themselves, it is in their nature.” In simpler terms, men are allowed, and rather, supposed to

act on their sexual impulses and urges because it is who they are.
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Victim-blaming also depends on the culture. For example, in certain parts of Africa, it is

common for individuals to walk around near-nude or completely nude, regardless of gender and

age. Several females in parts of Africa, like Kenya, undergo a surgical procedure known as

Gential Mutilation, or genital circumcision, which is the removal of part (or complete removal)

of the clitoris, vulva, and in some cases, the inner vulva, usually before age 10. This is so women

and girls are seen as “pure” to interested men, as masturbation and a female orgasm is considered

a sin.

If a Kenyan woman undergoes Gential Mutilation (and lives), she is usually unable to

have children, as Gential Mutilation has no proven health benefits and often infects the cervix

and the vagina, resulting in septic, infertility, and most commonly death. In Kenya, if a

circumcised woman is raped by a man, and they are not married, she is seen as filthy, cheating,

and often disowned and murdered by her family or other members of the culture.

The bottom line is society views women as lesser, inferior beings compared to men. This

is evidently displayed in unequal pay, strict gender roles, and suspicious attitudes from law

enforcement. “Women who are afraid of victim-blaming will refuse to step forward and testify

against their attacker, letting them walk free” (RAINN). The fact is, it does not matter what a

woman wears. If she says no, or cannot say no, it is rape. It does not matter what a woman drinks

or the recreational drugs she takes.

If she is under the influence she cannot say no, so it is rape. Rape should not benefit the

rapist. Law officials should not question the rape victim’s whereabouts, the clothes she wore, or

what she was doing because it does not matter. Because women are viewed as lesser beings and

are not respected, violence against women will continue to exist throughout society, causing an
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imbalance of peace and harmony. Victim-blaming also unfortunately occurs all over the world,

and unfortunately it will never cease to exist. President Donald Trump attacked several

celebrities in the Me, Too movement, criticizing several for not speaking up about their attack.

So, the only answer in response to why people victim blame, is because women are viewed as

sex objects, not as people.

Works Cited

Cherry, Kendra. “The Different Reasons Why People Victim-Blame.” Verywell Mind,

Verywell Mind, 17 Feb. 2020, www.verywellmind.com/why-do-people-blame-the-

victim-2795911.

Elia. “PEOPLE v. TURNER: No. H043709.: By ELIA: 20180808037.” Leagle, Court of

Appeals of California, Sixth District.Leagle.com/Images/Logo.png,

www.leagle.com/decision/incaco20180808037.

Hodal, Kate. “Cyntoia Brown: Trafficked, Enslaved, Jailed for Life at 16 – and Fighting

Back.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 23 Oct. 2019,

www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/oct/23/cyntoia-brown-long-trafficked-

enslaved-jailed-for-life-at-16-and-fighting-back.

Hunt, Elle. “'20 Minutes of Action': Father Defends Stanford Student Son Convicted of

Sexual Assault.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 6 June 2016,
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www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jun/06/father-stanford-university-student-brock-

turner-sexual-assault-statement.

Learning, Lumen. “Sociology.” Lumen, courses.lumenlearning.com/alamo-

sociology/chapter/functionalism/.

Maya Oppenheim

Press, The Associated. “William J. Ryan, 78, Sociologist; Explored the Blaming of

Victims.” The New York Times, The New York Times,

www.nytimes.com/2002/06/13/us/william-j-ryan-78-sociologist-explored-the-blaming-of-

victims.html.

RAINN, “About the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline.” www.rainn.org/about-

national-sexual-assault-telephone-hotline.

Ryan, William. Blaming the Victim. Pantheon, 1971.

Sydney Karlos, Staff Writer. “Opinion: A Lesson on Why Victims of Sexual Assault Stay

Silent.” The Daily Aztec, 8 May 2019, thedailyaztec.com/94723/el-alma/opinion-a-lesson-

on-why-victims-of-sexual-assault-stay-silent/.