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Taken from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8515592.stm


A majority of women believe some rape victims should take responsibility for what happened, a survey suggests.

Almost three-quarters of women said if a rape victim got into bed with the assailant before an attack they should accept some responsibility.

One-third blamed victims who had dressed provocatively or gone back to the attacker's house for a drink.

The survey of more than 1,000 people in London marked the 10th anniversary of the Haven service for rape victims.


Less forgiving

More than half of those of both sexes questioned said there were some circumstances when a rape victim should accept responsibility for an attack.

The study found that women were less forgiving of the victim than men.

Some 71% of women thought a person should accept responsibility when getting into bed with someone, compared with 57% of men.

The survey also found more than one in 10 people were unsure whether they would report being raped to the police, and 2% said they would definitely not do so.

The main reasons were being too embarrassed or ashamed (55%), wanting to forget it had happened (41%) and not wanting to go to court (38%).


Hardening attitudes

The online survey, titled Wake Up To Rape, polled 1,061 people aged 18 to 50, comprising 712 women and 349 men.

An Amnesty International report five years ago found that a significant minority of British people laid the blame for rape at victims themselves.

BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw says this latest study suggests attitudes may have hardened.

And the findings may help explain why juries are reluctant to convict in some rape trials.

The way someone is dressed has nothing to do with getting raped or increasing chances of being raped. The problem is the mind of the rapist, and what happens that causes him to choose to rape. At least according to a criminology professor at one of my universities (past/present, I don't remember which).