It starts with a question. Not one asked in concern, but in judgment: “Why did she go there?” This simple phrase—uttered by politicians, echoed in courtrooms, whispered in family kitchens—encapsulates a deeply entrenched societal flaw: the relentless shifting of responsibility for sexual violence from perpetrators to victims. Instead of demanding accountability from men who commit harm, we interrogate women’s choices—their clothes, their curfews, their routes home, even their right to exist in public space. This regressive logic places an unfair and impossible burden of safety on women, forcing them to shrink their lives to avoid crimes they did not commit .
Table of Contents
- The Enduring Legacy of Victim-Blaming
- Where Does the ‘Burden of Safety on Women’ Show Up?
- The Real Cost of Restricting Women’s Freedom
- What Experts and Data Reveal About Perpetrators
- Shifting the Narrative Toward Accountability
- Conclusion: Safety Is a Right, Not a Responsibility
- Sources
The Enduring Legacy of Victim-Blaming
Victim-blaming isn’t new—it’s woven into the fabric of patriarchal societies worldwide. The underlying assumption is that women are responsible for managing male desire and preventing male violence through self-policing. If a woman is harassed or assaulted, the immediate response often isn’t “How do we punish the offender?” but “What was she wearing?” or “Was she alone at night?” This line of questioning implies that violence is an inevitable consequence of female behavior, rather than a conscious choice made by the perpetrator .
This mindset persists despite decades of feminist activism, legal reforms, and public awareness campaigns. Why? Because it serves a convenient purpose: it absolves society—and especially men—from the hard work of changing culture, enforcing laws, and holding abusers accountable.
Where Does the ‘Burden of Safety on Women’ Show Up?
The burden of safety on women manifests in nearly every sphere of life:
- In Politics: Elected officials publicly question why women were out late or in certain locations after assaults, as seen in multiple Indian states following high-profile cases .
- In Courts: Defense lawyers routinely grill survivors about their past relationships, clothing, or alcohol consumption—tactics designed to cast doubt on their credibility rather than examine the accused’s actions.
- In Families: Parents warn daughters—not sons—to “be careful,” avoid certain neighborhoods, and never travel alone, reinforcing the idea that danger is a woman’s problem to solve.
- In Media: News headlines often emphasize what the victim was doing (“Woman found dead after returning from party”) instead of focusing on the crime itself or the suspect.
This constant messaging teaches women that public space is not theirs to claim freely—that their freedom must always be weighed against potential risk.
The Real Cost of Restricting Women’s Freedom
When society tells women to stay indoors, dress modestly, or avoid public transport at night, it doesn’t make them safer—it makes them smaller. The psychological toll includes anxiety, hypervigilance, and internalized shame. Economically, it limits job opportunities, educational access, and social participation. A woman who can’t take a night shift or commute safely is effectively barred from full citizenship.
Moreover, this approach is fundamentally ineffective. Studies show that most sexual assaults are committed by someone known to the victim—in homes, offices, or familiar settings—not by strangers in dark alleys . No amount of self-restriction can prevent abuse when the threat often comes from within trusted circles.
What Experts and Data Reveal About Perpetrators
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 1 in 3 women globally experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime—mostly by intimate partners . This data shatters the myth that stranger danger is the primary threat. Instead, it points to a crisis of male entitlement, toxic masculinity, and weak legal deterrence.
Experts in gender-based violence emphasize that prevention must focus on perpetrator accountability and early education on consent and respect. Programs that engage boys and men in redefining masculinity have shown promising results in countries like Sweden and Canada [[INTERNAL_LINK:preventing-gender-violence-through-education]].
Shifting the Narrative Toward Accountability
Change begins with language. Instead of asking “Why was she there?”, we must ask:
- “Why did he think it was acceptable to assault her?”
- “What systems failed to stop him?”
- “How can we teach boys that ‘no’ means ‘no’—always?”
Legal reforms must ensure faster trials, trauma-informed policing, and harsher penalties for offenders. But cultural change is equally vital. Media must report responsibly. Schools must integrate comprehensive sexuality education. And families must raise sons to respect boundaries as much as they teach daughters to set them.
Conclusion: Safety Is a Right, Not a Responsibility
The burden of safety on women is not just unfair—it’s a collective failure. True safety isn’t achieved by confining women to their homes; it’s built through justice, education, and a societal refusal to excuse violence. Every time we challenge the “Why did she go there?” narrative, we move closer to a world where women can walk anywhere, anytime—without fear, without blame, and without apology.
Sources
- Times of India. “‘Why did she go there?’: How the onus of safety keeps falling on women.” https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/why-did-she-go-there-how-the-onus-of-safety-keeps-falling-on-women/articleshow/126465880.cms
- UN Women. “Facts and Figures: Ending Violence Against Women.” https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/ending-violence-against-women/facts-and-figures
- National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), India. “Crime in India 2024 Report.”
- World Health Organization (WHO). “Violence Against Women Prevalence Estimates, 2018.” https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/violence-against-women