Victimization and fear: Assessing the role of offender and offence

Abstract

The relationship between victimization and fear of crime has been the topic of considerable research by social scientists. The results to date have been informative, but at times conflicting and/or confusing. Some have argued that measurement issues have been at the root of the conflicts and confusion. This article attempts to address some of the complexities of the victimization-fear relationship among women by examining how different types of offenders, and different types of offences, produce two different types of fear. Conducting secondary analysis on data from the Canadian Violence Against Women Survey, the findings reveal that victimizations involving certain offenders and offences are better predictors of fear than others.