An exploration of the many reasons why we blame women for male violence committed against them.

'Months later, Dr Taylor's words still haunt me' Matthew Wright

'Dr Taylor . . . gives voice and agency to women who have experienced trauma and violence' Morning Star

She asked for it. She was flirting. She was drinking. She was wearing a revealing dress. She was too confident. She walked home alone. She stayed in that relationship. She was naïve. She didn't report soon enough. She didn't fight back. She wanted it. She was vulnerable. She should have known.

Victim blaming of women is prevalent and normalised in society. What causes us to blame women who have been abused, raped, trafficked, assaulted or harassed by men? Why are we uncomfortable with placing all of the blame on perpetrators for their crimes against women?

Based on three years of doctoral research and ten years of practice with women and girls, Dr Jessica Taylor explores the many reasons we blame women for male violence committed against them. Written in her unique style and backed up by decades of evidence, this book exposes the powerful forces in society and individual psychology which compel us to blame women subjected to male violence.

Dr Jessica Taylor is a working-class feminist author, senior lecturer, speaker and researcher with a PhD from University of Birmingham in Forensic Psychology. In 2019, she was awarded a Fellowship of Royal Society of Arts for her contribution to feminism and psychology. She is the founder and director of VictimFocus, VictimFocus Resources, VictimFocus Academy and The VictimFocus Blog.