Analysing the Impact of Observer and Victim Characteristics on Attributions of Blame in Rape Cases: A Literature Review on Rape Victim Blaming

Abstract

Rape is a heinous crime that has an impact on people and societies all over the world. In Pakistan, it is common for victims to be held accountable for their own sexual assault—a phenomenon known as victim blaming. The objective of this comprehensive review of the literature was to pinpoint and evaluate the elements that lead to victim blaming in Pakistani rape cases. The following keywords were used to conduct research in several databases, including Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar: rape, victim blaming, Pakistan. This review included a total of 20 articles that were published between the years of 2010 and 2022. The results showed that victim blaming is a complicated phenomenon affected by social, legal, cultural, and religious aspects. The articles listed a number of elements that contribute to victim blaming, such as gender stereotypes, patriarchal views, false beliefs about rape, a lack of legal protection, and a lacklustre application of the law. The review comes to the conclusion that rape victim blaming in Pakistan is a complex problem that necessitates a thorough strategy to address its root causes. The study suggests creating public awareness campaigns to inform people about rape and its consequences, updating the legal system to give victims proper protection, and advocating for women's emancipation and gender equality.