Who is worthy of help? Constructing the stereotype of the “ideal
victim” of child sexual abuse
Abstract
The stereotype of the “ideal victim” often determines who is
considered deserving of victim status, especially in sexual violence
cases. In this Chapter, we explore how is the so-called “ideal victim”
stereotype constructed and what are the elements necessary for the
perception of “ideal victimhood.” We use empirical data from an
unmoderated anonymous Estonian online forum that hosts various topic
threads from children and young people, including posts about personally
experienced sexual violence (N=28) and replies to these posts (N=361).
The data was analyzed by combining a discursive psychological approach
with qualitative thematic analysis. Results reveal and illustrate how
the stereotype is constructed from various elements and characteristics
of social scripts, perceived gender roles, and misconceptions about
sexuality. We unveil how these social constructions affect responses and
attitudes towards sexual abuse victims to provide input for designing
prevention efforts that support disclosure and help-seeking.
This Chapter will soon appear in the book Child Sexual Abuse and the
Media (publisher: NOMOS).