Gender stereotypes, class, and race in attributions of blame for women's gender-linked mistreatment

In two survey experiments, three types of gender-based mistreatment, social class and race of the target, and gender-linked stereotypes of respectability (sexualization and irresponsibility) were assessed in relation to victim blame attribution. U.S. participants (Study 1: N = 416; Study 2: N = 300) read a vignette about a woman described as working- or middle-class, as Black or white, and as having experienced sexual assault, sexual harassment, or incivility in the workplace. Based on the ambiguity of the intent of the perpetrator, we anticipated that incivility would result in more victim blame; this was confirmed. Additionally, in both studies, perceived victim respectability mediated the relationship between class and blame. The working-class woman was seen as less respectable compared to the middle-class woman, and this was associated with greater blame attribution for mistreatment. Results confirm the importance of more attention to social class in research on perceptions of women exposed to mistreatment, as well as interventions to mitigate victim-blaming.