Stop victimizing the victim

When the victim becomes the victim again: Why this must change.

- KHUSHBU JAIN

Imagine enduring an unimaginable trauma—abuse, harassment, or violence—only to find yourself facing even more pain when you seek help. Instead of support and compassion, you're met with judgment and doubt. Instead of validation, you're questioned, scrutinized, or even pitied in ways that diminish your strength. For many victims, the suffering doesn't end with the crime itself. They are forced to endure what is known as secondary victimization—the distressing experience of being blamed, disbelieved, or reduced to their trauma when they seek justice or support.

Consider a woman who has been raped. When she steps forward to report her trauma, the questions she faces are often not about the crime but about her actions: "What were you wearing?" or "Were you drinking that night?" These questions, rather than addressing the violence she endured, dissect her choices, as though she somehow invited the brutality. Similarly, a woman being stalked for months may be told, "Maybe you were leading him on," or "Are you sure it's not all in your head?" Such remarks shift the focus from the criminal's behavior to the victim's supposed missteps, forcing her to justify her fear and pain. This mindset doesn't just invalidate her experience—it amplifies her trauma.