VICTIMOLOGY AND RAPE - THE CASE OF THE LIGITIMATE VICTIM

• NCJ Number: 12611
• Journal: ISSUES IN CRIMINOLOGY Volume: 8 Issue: 2 Dated: (FALL 1973) Pages: 71-115
• Author(s): K WEIS; S S BORGES
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 45 pages
• Corporate Author: University of California, Berkeley
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

EXAMINES THE SOCIAL PROCESSES WHICH FORCE WOMEN TO BE VICTIMS OF RAPE.

Abstract

BOTH THE TERM AND THE CONCEPT OF VICTIMIZATION REFER TO SOCIETAL PROCESSES THAT BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER THE EVENT SIMULTANEOUSLY RENDER THE VICTIM DEFENSELESS AND EVEN PARTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR IT. VICTIMIZATION INCLUDES THE PREPARATION OF THE VICTIM FOR THE CRIME, HIS OR HER EXPERIENCE DURING THE CRIME, AND THE TREATMENT AND RESPONSES HE OR SHE WILL ENCOUNTER AS PART OF THE AFTERMATH OF THE CRIME. IF THESE PROCESSES OF VICTIMIZATION ARE SUCCESSFUL WITH REGARD TO RAPE, THE RAPED WOMAN IS A 'LEGITIMATE' OR 'SAFE' VICTIM WHO WILL NOT BE DANGEROUS TO THE RAPIST, SINCE SHE IS UNABLE TO RELATE HER EXPERIENCE TO OTHERS OR TO EFFECTIVELY DIRECT BLAME AND ACCUSATION AGAINST THE PERSON WHO RAPED HER. COMMENTS ARE MADE ON THE SOCIALIZATION PROCESS OF THE MALE AND THE PROBLEMS THAT DIFFERENTIAL EXPECTATIONS FOR MEN AND WOMEN CAN CAUSE, SUCH AS DATA RAPES, WHICH GO LARGELY UNREPORTED. THE AUTHOR DEALS WITH RAPES OTHER THAN THOSE BY STRANGERS, THE TRAUMA OF REPORTING A RAPE AND RELATING THE EXPERIENCE.