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    Audrey Prosper
    Feb 06
    Edited: Feb 08

    Who Said I Was A Victim?

    in Categories

    Should advocates, the criminal legal system, and organizations refer to people who've experienced domestic violence as VICTIMS?



    2 answers2 replies
    4 Comments
    A
    Anne Daw
    Feb 22

    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

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    A
    Audrey Prosper
    Feb 23
    Replying to

    Anne I love hearing how you checked in with yourself to see how each word felt and chose the one that felt best to you.

    Like

    nhimes
    Feb 15

    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

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    A
    audrey
    Feb 15
    Replying to

    @nhimes the eloquence and heart of your response gave me hope. I agree that using the term survivor is a strength building, trauma informed, and empowering word that everyone including the criminal legal system should be using. Thank you for your perspective.

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    4 comments
     

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