Victim Blaming – Final PaperAccording to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), one American is sexually assaulted every two minutes. However, most of these attacks are never talked about, talked about, or given justice. One of the main reasons for the silence surrounding sexual violence is due to victim blaming. According to the UsLegal website, victim blaming is defined as "a devaluing act in which the victim of a crime, accident, or any type of abusive mistreatment is held fully or partially responsible for the wrongful conduct committed against them." (USLegal). In essence, victim blaming occurs when, instead of blaming the abuser for the crimes committed against the victim, the victim is blamed and is guilty because this happens because the victims know that they will be blamed by society based on their habits, sexual activity, or how they dress. Because of this disbelief and victim-blaming, many rapes and sexual assaults go unreported. As women are dissuaded from reporting, they are forced to experience the trauma in their daily lives and attackers are still on the streets looking for their next victims. Victim blaming reinforces sexual assault and distances people from victims. Many victims are viewed differently by family and friends as they are considered “impure” or “different” due to their forced sexual experience. Even though it is mostly talked about for women, it is a real problem for all individuals. In “The Classic Rape: When Do Victims Report?”, by Linda S. Williams of the University of Washington, Williams suggests that victims of “classic rape” (when the victim is attacked by a stranger) are more likely to report rape because they feel and see themselves as “real victims of crime” (Williams 459). However, rapes in which the victims know their attacker are less likely to be reported because the women feel they have some sort of responsibility or accountability. In light of the recent Brock Turner case, the media was quick to highlight all the rapist's key qualities. , Brock Turner, and is quick to point out that the victim was drunk. Brock Turner's family stressed that their son should not go to prison because he was a talented swimmer and had a bright future ahead of him (Levin). The media tries to justify the attack on the victim and to benefit the rapist by portraying him in a way in which the public sympathizes with him. This takes away sympathy and support from the victim who should rightly be supported. In Feminally's "Sexual Assault Prevention Tips," Feminally satirically yet seriously places all the responsibility on the perpetrator/person who could potentially be a perpetrator (Feminally 347). It's written tongue in cheek, but it gets the point across. One of the tips is: “USE THE BUDDY SYSTEM! If you can't stop yourself from attacking people, ask a friend to stay with you while you're in public” (Feminally 347). Almost always, girls are taught to never walk alone and to always live in fear when they are: Feminally places all the blame on potential attackers that sexual violence begins with them. In a perfect world, women wouldn't feel the need to take self-defense lessons or carry pepper spray in their purses to be prepared for a potential assault. Victims, who are mostly women,