Public Misconceptions
One misconception about rape is that women who dress provocatively were “asking for it.” According to Rape Victim Advocates (RVA), rape is a crime of power and control, so how a woman dresses is irrelevant. Can you think of other public misconceptions that lead to “victim blaming”?

In a minimum of 150 words, describe some of the public misconceptions regarding sexual assault you may have heard. Describe the concept of “victim blaming.” Why are victims of sexual assault more likely to experience blame than victims of other crimes? Compare at least two countries and note any differences.

Learning Resources
Required Readings
Book Excerpts
 Daigle, L. E. (2018). Victimology (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publishing.

Chapter 3, “Consequences of Victimization” (pp. 32–46)
Victimology, 2nd Edition by Daigle, L.E. Copyright 2018 by Sage College. Reprinted by permission of Sage College via the Copyright Clearance Center.

Articles
Dredge, R., Gleeson, J., & Garcia, X. (2015). The development and validation of the Social Networking Experiences Questionnaire: A measure of adolescent cyberbullying and its impact. Violence and Victims, 30(5), 798–812.

 

Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.

Englebrecht, C., Mason, D. T., & Adams, M. J. (2014). The experiences of homicide victims’ families with the criminal justice system: An exploratory study. Violence and Victims, 29(3), 407–421.

 

Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.

Ferrão, M. C., & Gonçalves, G. (2015). Rape crimes reviewed: The role of observer variables in female victim blaming. Psychological Thought, 8(1), 47–67.

 

Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.

McGovern, D. (2013). The therapeutic potential of victim impact statements for sexual violence. Sexual Abuse in Australia and New Zealand, 5(2), 21–30.

 

Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.

 Victim Support (2014, December 9). Suffering in silence: Children and unreported crime. Retrieved from https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/sites/default/files/Suffering%20in%20silence%20-%20Children%20and%20unreported%20crime.pdf

Websites
 Cudy, A. (2018, January 17). Brussels exhibition shows ‘no outfit prevents rape.’ Retrieved April 17, 2018, from http://www.euronews.com/2018/01/17/brussels-recreates-rape-survivors-outfits-to-tackle-victim-blaming

 News.com.au. (2017, October 22). Woman who was gang raped as a teenager calls to stop victim blaming. Retrieved April 17, 2018, from http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/current-affairs/woman-who-was-gang-raped-as-a-teenager-calls-to-stop-victim-blaming/news-story/3cae20f8c68a4c7e1336adba64dffcff

 Walden University Writing Center. (n.d.). Common assignments: Executive summaries. Retrieved March 13, 2018, from https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/assignments/executivesummaries

 National Center for Victims of Crime. (2012). Retrieved March 13, 2018, from http://victimsofcrime.org/home

 National Center for Victims of Crime. (n.d.). Child sexual abuse statistics. Retrieved April 17, 2018, from http://victimsofcrime.org/media/reporting-on-child-sexual-abuse/child-sexual-abuse-statistics

Media
 TEDx. (2015, September). Why women stay silent after sexual assault [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/ines_hercovich_why_women_stay_silent_after_sexual_assault

Optional Resources
 Good Morning Britain. (2017, April 25). Judge’s rape comments spark outrage and accusations of ‘victim-blaming’: Good Morning Britain [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/GkFEQgb7Oyk

 The Spinoff. (2017, May 1). New Zealand rape survivors—In their own words [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/yjt-ubpX42o