A systematic literature review of “rape victims” versus “rape survivors”: Implications for theory, research, and practice

Hockett, Jericho M.; Saucier, Donald A.

doi:10.1016/j.avb.2015.07.003

Cited by 42 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 147 publications

(171 reference statements)

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“…Academic, activist, clinician, and media discourses surrounding sexual violence encourage “survivorhood” and discourage “victimhood” (e.g., Dunn ; Hockett and Saucier ). Yet we know little about how these identities are incorporated into the self‐concept and predict actual distress.…”

Section: The Current Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Given that more positive and powerful attributes are associated with “survivors” than “victims” in both academic researchers’ language and students’ cultural scripts (Hockett and Saucier ; Papendick and Bohner ), Raisman’s resistance to identifying as a “victim” is understandable. It reflects a tension between the “victim” and “survivor” identities in cultural discourse and a preference for “survivorship” among feminists, activists, clinicians, academics, and the media (Dunn ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Beyond the Rape “Victim”–“Survivor” Binary: How Race, Gender, and Identity Processes Interact to Shape Distress

Boyle

Rogers

2020

Sociological Forum

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Victim" and "survivor" identities are central to discourses on sexual victimization. Activist and academic discourses associate the former with weakness and latter with strength, while centering images and experiences of white women. Yet, little research has explored who identifies as "victims"/"survivors" or how these identities relate to distress. We utilize identity theory to consider how "victim" and "survivor" identities are incorporated into and prioritized within the self among women of color, white women, and men. In a sample of college students who have experienced sexual assault (N = 169), we find identity theory's core conceptscommitment, prominence, and salience-are strongly and positively correlated across identities, suggesting respondents cannot be easily dichotomized into "victims" and "survivors." Indeed, most respondents identified with both identities (44%), while 25% identified as "survivors" only and 11% as "victims" only. As expected, respondents who identify only as "victims" or as "victim/survivors" report greater negative emotions and depression and lower self-esteem than those who identify only as "survivors." The "victim" identity is particularly damaging for men's emotional states, while the "survivor" identity ameliorates distress among women of color. We discuss how these identities interact with social identities and each other.

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Section: The Current Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Beyond the Rape “Victim”–“Survivor” Binary: How Race, Gender, and Identity Processes Interact to Shape Distress

Boyle

Rogers

2020

Sociological Forum

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“…Participants spoke about the victim/survivor dialectic and mirrored the common practice in RCC counseling to use the word “survivor” over “victim” as it is considered the more respectful and empowering label. Although much has been written on these terms from an empowerment perspective (Hockett & Saucier, ; Ovenden, ; Young & Maguire, ), there has been less focus on how this dichotomy upholds a neoliberal ideology. Participants often spoke about how to help survivors “feel” more in control or have a “sense” of agency; using the language of “survivor” was one example.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Medical Neoliberalism in Rape Crisis Center Counseling: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Clinicians’ Understandings of Survivor Distress

Peters

2019

Journal of Social Issues

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A neoliberal medicalized framework shapes society's understanding of distress as a disease or disorder and places the responsibility on individuals to "fix" themselves, situating the problem within a person, rather than in a sociopolitical context. This framework has become increasingly prevalent in Western society and has permeated rape crisis centers (RCCs), which play a vital role supporting sexual violence survivors. The goal of the present study was to explore the impact of a neoliberal medicalized discourse on RCC clinicians' understandings of survivor distress. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was employed. Six RCC clinicians were interviewed. Analysis revealed four master themes: Wielding the Double-Edged Sword of the Medical Model, Navigating the Healing Process with Survivors, Stay in Your Lane: The Role of the RCC, and Understanding and Honoring Survivor Shame. Recommendations for researchers and clinicians working with survivors are provided pertaining to how to (1) critically adopt medical neoliberalism, (2) empower survivors with medication information, and (3) employ alternatives to individual counseling to foster healing. Suggestions for future research are also provided.

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“…Khan et al's (2018) position could be viewed as being rather radical in the general rejection of what they see as identity labels. Other researchers (for an overview, see Hockett & Saucier, 2015) do not problematise identity labels as such but do favour one over the other: most often the 'survivor' label or the combined 'survivor/victim' construction over the 'victim' label. These researchers' argument is that the 'victim' label, as an identity label, signifies something weak, fundamentally broken and powerless.…”

Section: A Note On the 'Victim' Labelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rape in the Nordic Countries

Heinskou¹,

Skilbrei²,

Stefansen³

2019

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A systematic literature review of “rape victims” versus “rape survivors”: Implications for theory, research, and practice

Cited by 42 publications

References 147 publications

Beyond the Rape “Victim”–“Survivor” Binary: How Race, Gender, and Identity Processes Interact to Shape Distress

Beyond the Rape “Victim”–“Survivor” Binary: How Race, Gender, and Identity Processes Interact to Shape Distress

Medical Neoliberalism in Rape Crisis Center Counseling: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Clinicians’ Understandings of Survivor Distress

Rape in the Nordic Countries

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