Credible: Why We Doubt Accusers and Protect Abusers

Inthis landmark book, a former prosecutor, legal expert, and leading authority onsexual violence examines why we are primed to disbelieve allegations of sexual abuse—andhow we can transform a culture and a legal system structured to dismissaccusers Sexualmisconduct accusations spark competing claims: her word against his. How do wedecide who is telling the truth? The answer comes down to credibility. But asthis eye-opening book reveals, invisible forces warp the credibility judgmentsof even the well- intentioned among us. We are all shaped by a set of falseassumptions and hidden biases embedded in our culture, our legal system, andour psyches. In Credible,Deborah Tuerkheimer provides a much-needed framework to explain how we perceivecredibility, why our perceptions are distorted, and why these distortions harm survivors.Social hierarchies and inequalities foster doubt that is commonplace and predictable,resulting in what Tuerkheimer calls the “credibility discount”—our dismissal ofclaims by certain kinds of speakers—primarily women, and especially those whoare more marginalized. The #MeToomovement has exposed how victims have been badly served by a system that is designednot to protect them, but instead to protect the status quo. Credibility lies atthe heart of this system. Drawing on case studies, moving first-hand accounts,science, and the law, Tuerkheimer identifies widespread patterns and theircauses, analyzes the role of power, and examines the close, reciprocalrelationship between culture and law—guiding us toward accurate credibility judgmentsand equitable treatment of those whose suffering has long been disregarded.#MeToohas touched off a massive reckoning. To achieve lasting progress, we must shiftour approach to belief. Credible helps us forge a path forward toensuring justice for the countless individuals affected by sexual misconduct. Read more