Feminists have been arguing that it’s “victim-blaming” to suggest steps that women can take to reduce the risk of being sexual assaulted. But what if that same logic were applied to all crime prevention tips?
It might go something like this:
Stop blaming the victims of theft
We should be teaching people not to steal, not telling people to lock their doors and windows.
Parking in well-lit areas, not hiding keys near the front door, avoiding websites that ask for your Social Security number — these are all just ways that we blame the victims of theft. And it needs to stop.
Stop blaming the victims of violent crimes
I don’t want to live in a world where I can’t jog down deserted streets at night. I shouldn’t have to change my normal behavior because someone wants to attack me or steal my iPod.
Telling me to be aware of my surroundings perpetuates “burglary culture” where it is somehow my fault that I got mugged.
Stop blaming the victims of abduction
People need to be taught not to abduct children; children shouldn’t be told not to talk to strangers.
We are blaming children for their own abduction when we use family passwords, teach them about safe places and behaviors and tell them there are bad people in the world and what to watch for.
We don’t want our kids living in that world.
Stop blaming tourists who are victims of crimes
Every nation should be as safe as the safest neighborhood in all of America. That’s the world I want to live in. Therefore, I shouldn’t have to carry two copies of my travel documents or hide my jewelry and wallets when I travel overseas.
Stop blaming the victims who are robbed because they didn’t know the exchange rate by heart.
In reality, outside of feminist dogma, it is not blaming the victims to suggest ways to reduce the risk of being violated in a world in which bad people exist. The tips aren’t even a hardship. It’s more dangerous to tell people not to suggest these tips.
Even in cases of sexual assault among friends or acquaintances, being aware of one’s surroundings and letting people know where you’re going are commonsense ideas. To suggest otherwise is putting people in danger.
