Victim-survivor

I use the term “victim-survivor” in my research because, unwieldy as it is, either part of its whole fails to capture how I personally feel. “Survivor” is popular, and I like its inherent connotation of living despite the pain and fighting the odds. But for me, it’s important to bring in the idea of victimisation, to recognise the power dynamics inherent in sexual violence. I reject the passivity of being just a “victim”, but I also resist painting over the very real forces of power underlying such violence.