Episode Summary
Who do we believe when someone says they’ve been harmed — and why?
In this episode of Taking Back Control, host Alyssa Toledo introduces BWJP Staff Attorney Rachel Barkley, who unpacks two interconnected ideas that shape how survivors are treated by our culture and our courts: The Perfect Victim Archetype and The Credibility Discount.
From Nils Christie’s “Ideal Victim” theory to modern-day media narratives, Rachel explores how bias, privilege, and trauma misunderstanding combine to determine who is seen as believable. Through two high-profile cases — Cassie Ventura’s lawsuit against Sean “Diddy” Combs and Amber Heard’s defamation trial with Johnny Depp — she illustrates how survivors who don’t fit the “perfect” mold are too often dismissed, doubted, or punished.
Together, Alyssa and Rachel examine how challenging these myths can create space for systemic change, media literacy, and real accountability within the legal landscape.
Resources & References
What These Cases of High-Profile Accusers Reveal About the Credibility Gap — bwjp.org
DARVO, Misogyny, and the Myth of the Perfect Victim
Victim Blaming (Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime)
Sanctuary for Families: DARVO and the Perfect Victim
Related podcast: Women & Crime: Cassie Ventura
Amber Heard & The Myth of the Perfect Victim (YouTube)