The Just World Ideology and How It Prevents Victims from Blaming Themselves

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Experiencing sexism and harassment is not the victim's fault and blaming them is a defense mechanism to avoid the devastating idea that bad things can happen to good people. Victim blaming is a result of the just world ideology - the belief that if we do everything right, nothing bad should happen to us. Blaming the victim instead of acknowledging the abuser's fault is common in a male-dominated, sexist industry and can lead someone to become more of a feminist. It's scary to believe that you're not in control of whether something awful can happen to you, which is why people would rather find a way to blame the victims for what happened to them.

Pioneering sports journalist – the brilliant, hilarious, badass Sarah Spain – joins us to reflect on:

1. One of our most popular episodes – Episode 147: The Episode That Wasn’t – when we ended an interview after the guest was disrespectful to our team member;

2. The constant indignities and inequities in male-dominated fields;

3. To report or not to report harassment – and what actually happens when you do report?; and

4. How to help ourselves – and come together to help each other – secure safer and more just work spaces.

CW: sexual harassment

About Sarah:

Sarah Spain is an Emmy and Peabody Award-winning sports journalist. In her 12+ years at ESPN she has worked as a radio and podcast host, writer and TV analyst. She's a minority owner of the Chicago Red Stars of the NWSL, a co-founder of “Hear The Cheers,” which provides hearing aids and equipment to kids so they can continue participating in sports, and is on the board of Embarc, a program that provides community-driven experiences and learning opportunities to low-income Chicago high school students.

TW: @SarahSpain

IG:@spain2323

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