WHY DIDN'T SHE JUST LEAVE?

VICTIM-BLAMING

Maybe because she is at more risk of being killed after leaving.

Maybe because she has no money.

Maybe because she has nowhere to go.

Maybe because she cannot take her children if she leaves.

Maybe because she fears her partner will harm their pets.

Maybe because she does not know any different.

Maybe because she still loves her partner.

Maybe because she fears her partner will harm their children.

Maybe because she knows this won't stop the abuse.

The better question is...

Why did he abuse her and why wasn't he stopped?

When a drunk driver, kills a pedestrian...

we blame the driver.

When someone loses their battle to cancer...

we blame the disease.

When someone coward punches another...

we blame the attacker.

So why is it when a woman is killed...

we blame her?

What is victim blaming?

Victim blaming occurs when the victim of a crime or any wrongful act is held entirely or partially at fault for the harm that befell them.

Some examples are...

You should have left.

Why didn't you just leave?

She knew he was violent.

She shouldn't have gone back.

She should have gotten a DVO out on him.

She attracts these kinds of men.

What can we do?

Simply become self-aware when you catch yourself in a victim blaming mindset.

Hold yourself accountable when you slip up.

Call out other people's victim blaming (in conversation, in the media and on social media).

Support survivors of violence and abuse.