By Tamia Nuna

Within the troubling prevalence of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), another distressing issue emerges- Victim Blaming. Sadly, this has become all too common whenever individuals undergo any form of violence.

Victim blaming is any implication that places the victim of abuse at fault for what they have experienced. Unfortunately, in SGBV cases, phrases like “What were they wearing?” or “Why didn’t they come forward sooner?” are not uncommon.
Despite seeming innocuous, these statements have detrimental effects on both the victim and those who have yet to speak out or may be at risk of abuse.

One contributing factor to victim blaming is hindsight bias, often known as the “knew-it-all-along” phenomenon. This bias leads people to overestimate their ability to predict the outcome of past events, influencing the belief that victims should have foreseen the abuse in hindsight.

The “Just-World” phenomenon, asserting that the world is fair and everyone receives what they deserve, is another reason for victim blaming. This explains the reasoning behind insensitive phrases like “They must have provoked the abuser”, which automatically redirects the blame to the victim. Additionally, a lack of empathy can distance individuals from the occurrence, leading them to believe they are immune to a victim’s experience.

Unfortunately, victim blaming inflicts shame, stigma, and self-blame on numerous victims, significantly impacting their mental health. It also deters victims from speaking out, impeding their ability to receive the support they desperately need.
Furthermore, victim blaming shifts attention from the perpetrator’s actions to the victim’s behaviours, enabling abusers and perpetuating destructive tendencies such as rape culture.

Addressing and dismantling victim blaming will help foster a society where SGBV survivors are supported. Society must understand the underlying factors, such as the “Just-World” phenomenon and hindsight bias, to shift the focus back to the perpetrators and uphold justice for SGBV survivors.

Tamia Nuna, Youth Advocate at Network for Adolescent and Youth of Africa