Addressing Body Weight Bias: Alexandra Zidenberg's Insights on Perceptions of Sexual Violence

RESOLVing Violence

This week's episode of the RESOLVing Violence Podcast we sit down with Dr. Alexandra Zidenberg, to delve into her research on victim body weight and its influence on perceptions of sexual violence cases. This thought-provoking study sheds light on an often overlooked factor in understanding and addressing issues related to sexual violence.
Dr. Zidenberg conducted an online survey where participants were presented with vignettes depicting cases of sexual violence involving dating partners. The study explored how perceptions differed based on the victim's body weight. Surprisingly, the results indicated that when the victim was described as thin, participants tended to have more negative attitudes towards the perpetrator. However, when the victim was described as overweight, blame was disproportionately placed on the victim.

These findings highlight the profound impact that weight biases have on how society perceives and responds to sexual violence. The study shows that individuals with larger bodies may face harsher judgment and blame when victimized, perpetuating harmful attitudes and hindering effective support for survivors. It underscores the urgent need to address weight-related stigma and biases in the context of sexual violence.

The Resolving Violence Podcast, through this insightful episode brings to light the significant link between victim body weight and the perception of sexual violence cases. This research study underscores the need for greater awareness, understanding, and action to combat weight biases in our society.
Learn More About Our Guest
Alexandra M. Zidenberg, PhD, (she/her) is an incoming assistant professor of psychology at the Royal Military College of Canada. She completed her PhD in Applied Social Psychology at the University of Saskatchewan and served as a postdoctoral researcher at McGill University. Her research tends to focus on forensic topics and, particularly, sexual offending. Outside of her forensic work, she has a growing line of research focused on stigma related to tattooed mental health professionals.
To connect with Alexandra Zidenberg, contact her at [email protected].
To learn more about Resolve SK, head to research-groups.usask.ca/resolve/