Sadly, in cases of sexual harassment, there are people who would commonly and ignorantly blame the victim for the foolish behavior of the perpetrator. When a victim of a crime is either entirely or partially blamed for the transgressions of the wrongdoer, it’s called victim blaming.
Victim blaming occurs when individuals choose to simply use ideology in an effort to justify various actions of misconduct against the innocent.
In the mind of the blamer, if he or she can find a way to justify the negligence in the victim, then that would help to decipher a reason as to why the wrongdoing occurred. This would then conclude that there was logic to why it happened, allowing that individual to relax in a more peaceful state of understanding.
The truth of the matter is that one should never blame the victim. The victim is generally an innocent bystander, an individual placed in a circumstance, consequently preyed upon through no fault of his or her own.
The victim of sexual harassment, will more than likely suffer an assortment of rollercoaster emotions ranging from guilt, pain, embarrassment, anger, frustration, and confusion just to name a few. To add blame to the already overwhelming weight having to be carried by the victim is not only cruel but foolish. The harasser has consciously made the decision to violate another individual as an act of manifesting power, so why would anyone try and shift that blame to the innocent victim? Not to mention the committed act is more than likely a repeat offense on behalf of the aggressor and if no action is taken, he or she will continue to try and get away with the same behavior in the future.
It’s important for the victim to understand that he/she is not the one to blame and that the harasser who is one hundred percent at fault needs to accept the consequences of the poor decisions he/she chose to make when crossing the line of harassment to break laws. Those laws were set up to protect the victim so that he/she doesn’t have to deal with discrimination, harassment or working in a hostile job environment on a daily basis.
Have you been the victim of sexual harassment?
If you have, it’s essential for you as the victim to know that in any circumstance at your job, if it affects your job performance, feels uncomfortable to you or is causing you physical or mental distress, than you need to seek the professional advice of an NYC sexual harassment and employment law attorney immediately.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was put in place to prohibit employers from discriminating on the basis of race, sex, national origin, color and religion. Our attorneys here at the Derek Smith Law Group are experienced in sexual harassment, discrimination and all areas of employment law to help you better understand your rights as an employee and we are here to fight for justice on your behalf.
For a FREE Consultation in NY, NJ & PA schedule a free consultation with a sexual harassment attorney at the Derek Smith Law Group, PLLC in New York City, New Jersey, Philadelphia and Miami. You can reach us online or by calling 877-469-5297. Our NYC employment law attorneys handle cases involving sexual harassment, discrimination, and other employment-related lawsuits. We serve clients throughout New York, including Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island. We also have offices in New Jersey, Philadelphia and Miami to serve you.
