"credibility" is a nebulous construct shaped by the dominant group. hence credibility is a racist, sexist, ableist, and classist construct that intentionally excludes most rape victims.

credibility is a totally separate matter from whether the victimization happens or not.

focusing on victim credibility will prevent most victims from coming forward because the system's designed to make most of us unworthy of help or concern

victim credibility is essentially built on the concept of whether their report will end in a conviction.

in a legal system created and run by sexist, racist white men.

it inherently discriminates against the populations MOST sexually victimized.

"Police investigators’ decisions are guided by their perceptions of the characteristics necessary for prosecutors to accept charges in sexual assault investigations. Among these characteristics, victim credibility appeared to be the most important." https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0047235214001068

as long as we continue to treat a victim's behavior before, during, and after an assault as the key to whether rape occurred, we will shut out most victims from being heard.

credibility is about fitting white supremacist patriarchal standards