Almost 15% blame the woman if she is sexually abused while drunk

Almost 15% of people in Portugal blame women if they are victims of sexual abuse and are drunk, and almost 60% of men blame women who share intimate content for publishing these images, a European study reveals.

The analysis is carried out by the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), based on data contained in the Gender Equality Index 2024, in which Portugal occupied 15th position, with 68.6 points out of 100, and which was based on statistical data from 2022 for the most part.

This thematic analysis focused on data relating to combating violence against women and gender inequalities and, in the case of Portugal, it found, for example, that 13% of men, but also 14% of women, tend to agree or totally agree that if a woman is the victim of abuse or sexual violence whilst drunk, she is at least partially responsible.

On the other hand, 27% of men and 18% of women agree that women often make up or exaggerate when complaining about sexual abuse or rape.

The study also concludes that 57% of men and 51% of women believe that if a woman shares intimate personal content with someone, she is at least partially responsible if these images are shared with third parties.

Around 35% of men and 20% of women in Portugal believe that it is acceptable for men to control women's finances, and 8% of men and 4% of women believe that domestic violence is a private matter that should be dealt with in the privacy of the family.

Two in ten women aged between 18 and 74 admitted to having suffered physical or psychological violence since the age of 15 and 28% said they had suffered severe consequences as a result. Around 53% said they had suffered health consequences as a result of the abuse.

On average, around one third of women (31%) in the EU reported having been victims of physical and/or sexual violence by any perpetrator since the age of 15.

Regarding the aggression and suffering suffered by particularly marginalized and vulnerable women, such as women with disabilities or from the LGBTI community, EIGE highlights that the problem “continues to be ignored” and even states that “trans individuals are more likely to suffer incidents of discrimination, harassment and violence than cisgender LGB [lesbian, gay or bisexual] individuals in Germany, Portugal and the United Kingdom”.

“This is particularly true for trans women of color, who are disproportionately impacted by racialized violence against women,” the document reads.

Portugal is also mentioned when the topic is female genital mutilation (FGM), but here in a positive way: the country is mentioned as one of those that classify FGM as an autonomous crime, alongside Denmark, Greece, France and Luxembourg.

“Portugal has made great strides in the area of ​​FGM through three consecutive action programmes, which have made it a pioneer in this area”, says EIGE.

Almost 15% of people in Portugal blame women if they are victims of sexual abuse and are drunk, and almost 60% of men blame women who share intimate content for publishing these images, a European study reveals.

The analysis is carried out by the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), based on data contained in the Gender Equality Index 2024, in which Portugal occupied 15th position, with 68.6 points out of 100, and which was based on statistical data from 2022 for the most part.

This thematic analysis focused on data relating to combating violence against women and gender inequalities and, in the case of Portugal, it found, for example, that 13% of men, but also 14% of women, tend to agree or totally agree that if a woman is the victim of abuse or sexual violence whilst drunk, she is at least partially responsible.

On the other hand, 27% of men and 18% of women agree that women often make up or exaggerate when complaining about sexual abuse or rape.

The study also concludes that 57% of men and 51% of women believe that if a woman shares intimate personal content with someone, she is at least partially responsible if these images are shared with third parties.

Around 35% of men and 20% of women in Portugal believe that it is acceptable for men to control women's finances, and 8% of men and 4% of women believe that domestic violence is a private matter that should be dealt with in the privacy of the family.

Two in ten women aged between 18 and 74 admitted to having suffered physical or psychological violence since the age of 15 and 28% said they had suffered severe consequences as a result. Around 53% said they had suffered health consequences as a result of the abuse.

On average, around one third of women (31%) in the EU reported having been victims of physical and/or sexual violence by any perpetrator since the age of 15.

Regarding the aggression and suffering suffered by particularly marginalized and vulnerable women, such as women with disabilities or from the LGBTI community, EIGE highlights that the problem “continues to be ignored” and even states that “trans individuals are more likely to suffer incidents of discrimination, harassment and violence than cisgender LGB [lesbian, gay or bisexual] individuals in Germany, Portugal and the United Kingdom”.

“This is particularly true for trans women of color, who are disproportionately impacted by racialized violence against women,” the document reads.

Portugal is also mentioned when the topic is female genital mutilation (FGM), but here in a positive way: the country is mentioned as one of those that classify FGM as an autonomous crime, alongside Denmark, Greece, France and Luxembourg.

“Portugal has made great strides in the area of ​​FGM through three consecutive action programmes, which have made it a pioneer in this area”, says EIGE.

Almost 15% of people in Portugal blame women if they are victims of sexual abuse and are drunk, and almost 60% of men blame women who share intimate content for publishing these images, a European study reveals.

The analysis is carried out by the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), based on data contained in the Gender Equality Index 2024, in which Portugal occupied 15th position, with 68.6 points out of 100, and which was based on statistical data from 2022 for the most part.

This thematic analysis focused on data relating to combating violence against women and gender inequalities and, in the case of Portugal, it found, for example, that 13% of men, but also 14% of women, tend to agree or totally agree that if a woman is the victim of abuse or sexual violence whilst drunk, she is at least partially responsible.

On the other hand, 27% of men and 18% of women agree that women often make up or exaggerate when complaining about sexual abuse or rape.

The study also concludes that 57% of men and 51% of women believe that if a woman shares intimate personal content with someone, she is at least partially responsible if these images are shared with third parties.

Around 35% of men and 20% of women in Portugal believe that it is acceptable for men to control women's finances, and 8% of men and 4% of women believe that domestic violence is a private matter that should be dealt with in the privacy of the family.

Two in ten women aged between 18 and 74 admitted to having suffered physical or psychological violence since the age of 15 and 28% said they had suffered severe consequences as a result. Around 53% said they had suffered health consequences as a result of the abuse.

On average, around one third of women (31%) in the EU reported having been victims of physical and/or sexual violence by any perpetrator since the age of 15.

Regarding the aggression and suffering suffered by particularly marginalized and vulnerable women, such as women with disabilities or from the LGBTI community, EIGE highlights that the problem “continues to be ignored” and even states that “trans individuals are more likely to suffer incidents of discrimination, harassment and violence than cisgender LGB [lesbian, gay or bisexual] individuals in Germany, Portugal and the United Kingdom”.

“This is particularly true for trans women of color, who are disproportionately impacted by racialized violence against women,” the document reads.

Portugal is also mentioned when the topic is female genital mutilation (FGM), but here in a positive way: the country is mentioned as one of those that classify FGM as an autonomous crime, alongside Denmark, Greece, France and Luxembourg.

“Portugal has made great strides in the area of ​​FGM through three consecutive action programmes, which have made it a pioneer in this area”, says EIGE.