Gendered violence and victim blame: subject perceptions of blame and the appropriateness of services for survivors of domestic sex trafficking, sexual assault, and intimate partner violence

The last decade has seen advances in both scholarship and advocacy efforts regarding the domestic sex trafficking (DST) of women and children, culminating in federal and state legislation addressing this human rights issue. Despite these advances, prostituted women and girls continue to face stigma and blame for victimization, similar to female survivors of other forms of gendered violence, specifically intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual assault. Studies have yet to fully explore perceptions of DST as it intersects with these forms of gendered violence, particularly with regard to victim and perpetrator culpability. The current study uses a student sample of survey questionnaires to examine subject perceptions of gendered violence, with a focus on victim and perpetrator blame and appropriate social service responses for victims of DST, sexual assault, and IPV. Future research directions and policy implications are discussed.