NCJ Number
51385
Date Published
1978
Length
10 pages
Annotation
THE CONDITIONS WHICH MUST BE PRESENT BEFORE ONE GROUP CAN SUCCESSFULLY VICTIMIZE ANOTHER GROUP ARE LISTED AND THE SOCIALIZATION PROCESS THROUGH WHICH WOMEN BECOME ACCEPTABLE TARGETS OF CRIMINAL ABUSE IS TRACED.
Abstract
AN OVERVIEW OF VICTIMIZATION LITERATURE REVEALS THAT SEVERAL ELEMENTS TEND TO PREDISPOSE A GROUP TO REPEATED VICTIMIZATION: (1) DOMINANT CULTURAL ATTITUDES AND MYTHS ABOUT THE VICTIMIZED CLASS; (2) PERCEIVED CHARACTERISTICS OF THE VICTIMIZED CLASS; AND (3) PERCEPTIONS AND ATTITUDES OF THE VICTIMIZED CLASS ITSELF. THE JUDEO-CHRISTIAN TRADITION, TRADITIONAL MORALITY, AND EDUCATION ALL TEND TO REINFORCE THE OPINION THAT THE MALE IS THE HEAD OF THE FAMILY AND THAT A WOMAN HAS NO POWER OR STATUS OTHER THAN THAT RECEIVED FROM HER POSITION AS A DAUGHTER OR WIFE. FEW WOMEN ARE ENCOURAGED TO FULLY EDUCATE THEMSELVES AND THE EXCEPTIONS ARE SO RARE AS TO BE INACCESSIBLE TO OTHER GIRLS AS ROLE MODELS. THIS PERCEIVED INFERIORITY OF WOMEN IS NOT UNLIKE THE PERCEIVED INFERIORITY OF MINORITY GROUPS. AS THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT MADE IT NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE TO VICTIMIZE BLACKS, SO MUST THE FEMINIST MOVEMENT MAKE IT NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE TO VICTIMIZE WOMEN. WIVES SHOULD NOT BE EXPECTED TO TOLERATE ASSAULTS WHICH WOULD BE FELONIES IF COMMITTED BY A STRANGER. LAWS SHOULD NO LONGER IMPLICITLY SUPPORT THE RAPIST BY DENYING THE VICTIM THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY WHEN TESTIFYING. LAWS AGAINST PROSTITUTION SHOULD BE ENFORCED FOR THE CUSTOMER AS WELL AS FOR THE PROSTITUTE. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT ONLY WHEN WOMEN REFUSE TO SEE THEMSELVES AS VICTIMS WILL SOCIETY CHANGE. WOMEN ARE URGED TO TAKE THE INITIATIVE TO SUPPORT SUCH CHANGE. REFERENCES ARE APPENDED. (GLR)