NCJ Number
165502
Editor(s)
D Bender,
B Leone,
P A Winters
Date Published
1996
Length
185 pages
Annotation
This collection of papers explores the effects of injustice and victimization on American society in general and on disadvantaged groups such as women, minorities, and the poor in particular.
Abstract
Many individuals who support the goals of political and economic inclusion sought by the civil rights and women's liberation movements concede that these movements have gone too far in the direction of individual interests and that such excesses have undermined the American sense of community and moral responsibility. Further, many individuals believe that the redistribution of economic and political advantages requires a moral consensus within society and that the debate over victimization has extended into many areas of American life other than the civil rights movement, to include criminal and civil law and psychology. The collection of papers is organized according to four chapters: (1) how victimhood affects American society; (2) whether the civil rights movement has become a victimhood competition; (3) whether the recovery movement creates victims; and (4) how victimhood affects the justice system. Specific papers look at compassion toward victims, the moral nature of the victim culture, political correctness, civil rights, repressed memory therapy, the effect of talk shows on victims, domestic abuse, and victim rights. References and illustrations.