‘Victim’ or ‘survivor’?: language, identity and ethics revisited

Barker, Kim; Macleod, Catriona I

Title: ‘Victim’ or ‘survivor’?: language, identity and ethics revisited
Creator: Barker, Kim, Macleod, Catriona I
Date: 2015
Type: text
Type: article
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/143738
Identifier: vital:38278
Identifier: https://ischp.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/ischp_2015_abstract_booklet.pdf
Description: Initially in feminist circles, and subsequently in more common usage, the term ‘survivor’ came to signify those who have been (sexually) violated and live on, and even thrive. The passivity implied by the term ‘victim’ therefore gave way to the more agentic connotations of ‘survivor’. However, neither term adequately captures the complexity and fluidity of subject positions taken up by and ascribed to women who have been subjected to sexual violence. The selection of an inadequate word is not neutral: each identifier calls forth particular identity constructions which have real effects. Reducing women’s experiences to one pole of this simple binary can diminish and totalise those experiences. In this paper we re-consider the use of these terms with reference to research conducted with protestors participating in an annual anti-rape protest held at Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa. We focus on the perspectives of women who are ‘survivors’ of sexual violence.
Format: pdf
Language: English
Relation: International Society of Critical Health Psychology (ISCHP), Barker, K. and Macleod, C., 2015 ‘Victim’ or ‘survivor’? : Language, identity and ethics revisited. International Society of Critical Health Psychology (ISCHP). 9th Biennial Conference, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa, International Society of Critical Health Psychology (ISCHP) volume 2015 number 0 2015
Rights: Publisher
Rights: Use of this resource is governed by the terms and conditions of the Rhodes University Proatia Statement (https://www.ru.ac.za//governance/proatia/)

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Gender Action Forum (GENACT)

Macleod, Catriona Ida (Distinguished Professor)

SDG 05. Gender Equality

RU Department of Psychology

SDG 10. Reduced Inequalities

RU DST/NRF SARChI for Critical Studies in Sexualities and Reproductions Research (CSSR) Programme

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