Victimology is a term used to describe a person who has become a victim of a crime. There are different types of victimologies and different focuses. Let’s explore.
If a person is raped, they become the victim. The victim’s age, race, financial status, gender and area of residence is the victimology of the person.
With some crimes, like rape, there is a stigma attached. No one wants to be a victim of a crime, but it will be easier to report a car theft than to report a sexual assault.
Unfortunately, many victims of sexual assault are not believed when they report the crime, and this is where secondary victimisation starts.
Whether it’s the police officer who thinks you are lying or the attorney in court who asks you disrespectful questions, in South Africa, secondary victimisation is an enormous issue.
You are going to think twice about reporting the crime if you know that you are bound to be traumatised all over again.
In the past, victimology was also known to pass the blame to the victims.
One example I can understand is that if you leave your car unlocked, you are putting yourself at risk of becoming a crime victim.
Another example is wearing a short skirt as an invitation for sexual abuse. Fortunately, this example has been frowned upon.
Research shows that some people are more prone to become victims of crimes than others.
Younger people are at greater risk of becoming victims of crimes. This is because they are vulnerable as they do not have life experience and can tend to be more careless than older people.
Women are six times more likely than men to be raped or sexually assaulted.
Men are twice as likely to be victims of violent crimes, but mostly by strangers, like a bar fight.
Women mostly fight with their words, and if they are assaulted, it’s most likely by someone they know.
Being married also helps keep you safe; being single or divorced increases your chance of becoming a victim of crime.
Black people worldwide experience more crime, mostly because of the high-risk areas in which they live.
Generally, low-income groups experience more crime.
Certain people are prone to become repeat victims if they stay in the same area, which is high-risk, or if a person stays with their abuser, they will endure repeat victimisation.
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