Not My Fault
An artistic initiative to visualize the impact of victim blaming
How to make the invisible emotional and psychological impact of victim blaming tangible and understandable to the wider public?
Development of a diary concept inviting visitors to respond directly to texts.
Use of artistic tools to make complex themes accessible.
An inspiring opening night with spoken word performances, networking and authentic conversation with visitors
95
+
visitors
- Positive feedback from participants on how the installation helped them recognize their own biases.
- Media attention highlighting the importance of addressing victim blaming.
Approach
Creative
writing
Storytelling
What people say about us
"I learnt a lot. I didn't know the freeze-of-please reaction before, that was very insightful."
"It really taught me a lot again. I really do see myself as a person who responds empathically, but through those stories I realised that I also sometimes asked girlfriends who were telling me something like, ‘but what time were you there then?’ purely to try to check for myself that that doesn't happen to me, but I had never thought about this like that."
"Wow! I encourage everyone viewing this expo. Awareness!"
"Very impressive, actually all the stories are kind of ‘cliché’ as in, you know all the stories because you've heard them before. That makes it even more painful.!'"
"Very instructive, I think the content is very strong. It really makes you think about the words you use."
"I think it's so good that it also specifically highlights how much victim blaming is involved in partner violence, because that's often really underexposed."
Reactions to the stories in the expo
"Whatever happened, you didn't deserve this and hope you can see that for yourself one day"
"Here, first you get a big hug from me"
"No one knows what you feel until they experience it themselves. Leaving a partner is hard and you are all the stronger for having found the strength."
"Courageous people like you make this world a little better. Know that the value of the people you help is greater than those who blackball you!'"
"You are, so you have a right to exist"
"Guilt and shame belong to the perpetrator, not to you"
"It is not your fault and you are not alone <3"
"Stay who you are"
"As much as I would like to see situations like this not happen to you, this diary makes me realise again how important it is as a family to just really listen. Empathy!"
"You are not alone!"
