Thread by @DebateDems

Responding to Victim Blaming So You Don’t Have To: A PowerPoint I Made While Angry
(I’m primarily angry about reactions to AOC sharing her experiences of trauma, but also we do this all the time to anyone who talks about any kind of abuse, hence the PowerPoint)

Victim blaming is an understandable impulse if you want to believe the world is Just and you are Safe, but it hurts survivors and holds society back from addressing the underlying causes of violence

“Stranger Danger” myths lead to victim blaming
Most sexual violence is perpetrated by someone known to the victim, which is a scary thought

Victim Blaming Sentiments to Avoid and Why

Responses to:
“Well they shouldn’t have been drinking/having sex/existing in public/etc”
“Why wait until now to say something”
and “They’re just saying this for attention”

Responses to:
“A real victim would {x}”
“They still have contact with the perpetrator”
and “Why didn’t they physically fight back?”

Instead of victim blaming, #StartByBelieving
Listen non-judgmentally and refer the person to resources. Trust the person to make decisions for themselves.

Sources:

Here is the link to the actual PowerPoint because it’s hard to read on Twitter: usu.box.com/s/a2jz432sy8ih…

Leave a reply on this thread if there are more victim blaming sentiments you’d like me to add and debunk!

This thread is also inspired by the podcast @yourewrongabout and their dedication to busting stranger danger and trafficking myths so we can actually address problems like patriarchy and racism and rigid gender norms and exploitation of labor 💃