Who Said I Was A Victim?

i believe when i came out of the abuse the word victim always seemed negative to me the word survivor always seemed to have a more positive value and it gives power back to the person that survived the abuse i always liked the quote from carl jung i am not what happened to me i am what i choose to become

An advocate with over 30 years experience once told me that "victims" of domestic violence are those who unfortunately lost their life in their fight, and "survivors" are those who are still here to tell their story another day. As a survivor turned advocate, that word of advice has always stuck with me. I do understand why prosecution offices and law enforcement agencies refer to survivors as victims as they are looking at it more from a systems-based/criminal case related lens. However, those of us working in the community-based realm operate more on a strength-based and trauma informed approach. It is for this reason and more that I believe we should use the term "survivor" as it is more empowering and speaks to the survivor's future, rather than their past. -- Neisha Himes, G.R.O.W. Foundation