SOC 260 Chapter 10

Primary victims

Individuals directly affected by harm

Secondary victims

Individuals indirectly affected by harm done to a primary victim, who are in close social proximity to the primary victim

Tertiary victims

Individuals who have no relationship with the primary victim but who suffer as a result of knowing about the victimization experience

Vicarious victimization

The effect one person’s victimization has on others

• what they witness + hear about it

• Can cause psychosocial consequences

Re-victimization

When a person is victimized more than once by any type of victimization but across a relatively wide span of time

• used to refer to happening through the (in)actions of others

Polyvictimization

People who experience 3 or more types of victimization

• can be at any time

Functionalism

Crime (victimization) is normal, universal, and unavoidable

• a small amount of crime is beneficial; leads yo social integration

Strain theory

When explaining victimization, the accumulation of strains increases the likelihood of re(victimization)

While some individuals may cope through prosocial means, those with limited social support or prosocial traits may be more likely to resort to criminal coping means

• anything negative compounding

• Part of functionalism

Conflict theory

Inequity is the cause of crime and victimization

• crime and victimization are unequally distributed in society (rooted in power + inequality)

Feminism

Gender increases risk of victimization

• gender differences in types of victimization experiences (ex. Sexual violence)

Social constructionism

Some victims are more deserving of the label “victim” than others

• can impact how much they are believed + helped

• Impacted by those with the power to label others

Characteristics of ‘ideal’ victims

1. Weak (ex. Old or very young)

2. Carrying out an innocent or respectable task

3. Incident occurred in a location the victim cannot be blamed for being

4. Offender was physically stronger

5. No relationship between the victim + offender

Non ideal victims

Witches: those who have power

Workers: victims of the (capitalist) system

Media + Victim Legitimacy

Often reinforces notions of ‘ideal’ victims predicated on a hierarchy of victimization

• often highlight the experiences of some victims and neglect others

• Promotes the idea that certain victims deserve what they get

Coverage typically perpetuates stereotypes of people + victims

Supports individualistic explanations of crime/victimization, rather than looking at the structural causes

Hierarchy of victimization

The tendency to grant victim status to some people and not others

Just world belief theory

The belief in an orderly and just world, where bad things happen to bad people and good things happen to good people

Victim blaming

Holding a victim of a crime, abuse, or tragedy partially of fully responsible for the harm they experienced

Victimization trends

Are difficult to accurately measure

• police reported statistics are some of the least reliable measures (substantial barriers + heightened for marginalized victims)

Most (69%) is non violent; among violent; physical assault is most common

Most victims of violent crime know their offender

Young victims

Most likely to be both victims + perpetrators of crime

• risk of victimization declines with age

7 in 10 experience some form of bullying

• child maltreatment is a risk a factor for bullying (perpetration + victimization)

• Queer + gender diverse have increased risk

Are vulnerable, with fewer resources to protect them

Bullying associations

Either as a victim or a perpetrator is associated with:

• depression, (social) anxiety, and suicidal ideation

• Lower self esteem

• Decreased academic performance (higher rate of leaving + less engagement)

• Substance abuse

Bullying in childhood

Increases risk of poorer health outcomes, disrupted social relationships, and financial difficulties in adulthood

• poverty + job insecurity

Campus Sexual Assault

College students are at an increased risk of sexual victimization

• marginalization increases this risk

Rape culture/myths + minimization is particularly likely among college demographic

• including victims/survivors themselves

Rape culture

The normalization of sexual violence

• ‘its natural, a by product, expected’

Rape myths stereotypical beliefs about perpetrators and survivors

• victims aren’t immune

Minimization

The assault (or its impact) is ‘not serious enough’ to warrant use of supports

Gender based violence

Violence that is inflicted because of one’s gender, gender identity, gender expression or perceived gender

• strongly connected to power + control

Women + gender miniorities are more likely to experience sexual + intimate partner violence than men

Transmisogyny

Prejudice against and abusive treatment of transgender women resulting in hate crimes

Femicide

The hateful killing of women because they are women

• connected to école polytechnique massacre; 14 female students murdered. This was a blatantly misogynistic attack

Coercive control

Patterns of abuse that create fear, using coercion and control

Intimate Partner Violence in RRN communities

Have increased risk of IPV, especially for Indigenous mothers

• physically + socially isolated

• Limited access to already limited supports

• Rural communities tend to have greater support of traditional gender norms

• Increased firearm ownership

MMIWG

Indigenous women and girls are overrepresented in homicide and disappearance statistics

• cleared at a much slower rate than non-indigenous women + more likely to go unsolved (further act of colonial violence)

• Outlined 231 calls to justice

Completed calls: call for justice 5.20; indigenous specific provisions for the corrections and conditional release act + deputy commissioner for indigenous corrections

Hate crimes

Targeting specific people or groups for victimization because of their minority status

(Violent) hate crimes in Canada have increased every year since 2015

• further socially isolate victims + their broader social groups

Those who reply on second hand info about hate crimes are more likely to have negative beliefs of migrants + intend to take actions to exclude new migrants from their communities

Fear of crime

An emotional response expressed in the form of ‘dread’ of becoming a victim of crime or anxiety toward crime in general or towards symbols that are associated with crime

• commonly measured ‘perceptions of safety’; can misrepresent

• Indigenous women, gender minorities, racialized, and young Canadians report less satisfaction with personal safety

The closer to the victimization event, greater likelihood of fear of crime

Perceptions of safety

Media + politicians affect public perceptions of safety

• can lead to moral panics

Most Canadians view their neighbourhoods as safe from crime

• older Canadians have a higher perception of community safety than younger Canadians (depending on immigrant population)

Moral panics

A widespread feeling of fear that something or someone will negatively destabilize society

Perceived biggest threats to public safety

Drug addiction/overdoses or mental health issues

• contributes to criminalization of vulnerable demographics