What is secondary victimization?
Secondary victimization refers to behaviors and attitudes of social service providers that are “victim-blaming” and insensitive, and which traumatize victims of violence who are being served by these agencies. Institutional practices and values that place the needs of the organization above the needs of clients or patients are implicated in the problem. When providers subjugate the needs and psychological boundaries of rape victims to agencies’ needs, victims feel violated.
