Victim Blaming in Crimes Against Transgender People: Turkish Sample

Year 2025, Volume: 22 Issue: 6, 1380 - 1393, 17.12.2025

Ezgi Ildırım , Osman Sezer Erim Can Çalıcı , Barışhan Erdoğan

https://doi.org/10.26466/opusjsr.1817998

Abstract

This study examined victim-blaming attitudes toward transgender individuals in Turkey by comparing perceptions of physical and sexual assault scenarios involving female, male, and transgender victims. Ninety-five participants (M = 27.81, SD = 12.45) evaluated six vignettes which depict either a physical or sexual assault with victim gender manipulated across conditions are used. Each scenario was followed by Likert-type items assessing perceived seriousness, traumatization, offender and victim responsibility, provocation, and preventability. Non-parametric analyses (Friedman and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests) revealed significant gender-based differences in perceived traumatization (χ²(2, N = 95) = 51.71, p < .001), victim responsibility (χ²(2) = 8.75, p < .05), and preventability (χ²(2) = 39.74, p < .001). Transgender victims were perceived more similarly to female victims, with lower perceived ability to prevent physical assault (Md = 2.00) compared to male victims (Md = 3.00). Male participants attributed greater responsibility and provocation to transgender victims (U = 762.00, z = –2.77, p < .05). Although offenders were largely held responsible, findings indicate subtle transphobic and gendered biases shaping victim-blaming judgments. Results underscore the need for awareness efforts to reduce prejudice and support equitable treatment of transgender individuals in the justice system.

Keywords

victim blaming , transgender , gender bias , crime seriousness

Ethical Statement

This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Istanbul Arel University on October 14, 2022 (Decision No: 2022/20).

Supporting Institution

None

Transseksüel Bireylere Karşı İşlenen Suçlarda Mağduru Suçlama: Türkiye Örneği

Abstract

Bu çalışma, Türkiye örnekleminde trans bireylere yönelik mağduru suçlama tutumlarını, kadın, erkek ve trans mağdurların yer aldığı fiziksel ve cinsel saldırı senaryoları üzerinden incelemiştir. Katılımcılar (N = 95; Ort = 27,81, SS = 12,45), altı kısa senaryoyu değerlendirerek olayların ciddiyeti, mağdur ve fail sorumluluğu, provokasyon ve önlenebilirlik düzeylerini 10’lu Likert tipi ölçeklerde puanlamıştır. Yapılan parametrik olmayan analizler (Friedman ve Wilcoxon işaretli sıra testleri), mağdur cinsiyetine göre travmatizasyon (χ²(2, N = 95) = 51.71, p < .001), mağdur sorumluluğu (χ²(2) = 8.75, p < .05) ve önlenebilirlik (χ²(2) = 39.74, p < .001) değişkenlerinde anlamlı farklar göstermiştir. Trans mağdurlar, fiziksel saldırılarda kadın mağdurlara benzer şekilde daha fazla travmatize görülmüş (Ortanca = 2.00) ve erkek mağdurlara göre suçu önleyebilme olasılıkları daha düşük değerlendirilmiştir (Ortanca = 3.00). Erkek katılımcılar trans mağdurlara daha fazla sorumluluk ve provokasyon atfetmiştir (U = 762.00, z = –2.77, p < .05). Bulgular, failin daha çok sorumlu tutulmasına karşın, mağduru suçlamada toplumsal cinsiyet ve transfobik önyargıların sürdüğünü göstermektedir.

Keywords

mağduru suçlama , trans birey , toplumsal cinsiyet önyargısı , suç ciddiyeti

Ethical Statement

Bu çalışma, İstanbul Arel Üniversitesi Etik Kurulu’nun 14.10.2022 tarihli ve 2022/20 sayılı kararı ile onaylanmıştır.

Supporting Institution

Bulunmamaktadır

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