The practice of blaming one person for the problems or negative emotions of a family or group, making them the target of criticism while others avoid taking responsibility. The scapegoated person becomes the identified problem.
From the biblical ritual where a goat was symbolically loaded with the sins of the community and sent into the wilderness. The psychological concept developed in the 20th century to describe how families and groups project their collective shame and dysfunction onto one member.
Scapegoating serves a twisted psychological function - it allows everyone else to feel innocent and good by making one person carry all the 'badness.' The tragic irony is that scapegoated children often become the most emotionally aware family members because they're forced to understand everyone else's pain.
Historically, women, minorities, and marginalized groups have been systematically scapegoated for societal problems, from medieval witch hunts to contemporary moral panics. The pattern reflects power imbalances that allow dominant groups to redirect blame downward.
Use 'scapegoating' with awareness of historical targets; avoid unconsciously reproducing gendered or racialized scapegoating patterns in language or policy.
Recognizing scapegoating patterns helps identify where women's voices and experiences have been erased or blamed unfairly, enabling more equitable attribution of accountability.
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