Doreen Arcus

https://www.wbur.org/cognoscenti/2019/01/28/the-language-of-sexual-violence-doreen-arcus

When cognitive psychologist Nancy Henley and her colleagues asked people to respond to mock news reports of violence against women written in either the passive or active voice, men attributed more responsibility to the perpetrator and harm to the victim in response to reports that used active voice. Women’s attributions did not differ, suggesting that the language of sexual violence matters more to those who identify less with the victim to begin with. The implications are especially important given the gender composition of the halls of power.

In speaking truth to power, we need to speak the whole truth.

I didn’t have the words at the time of my assault, but I do now. If you think of me as a survivor, you must also think of him as a perpetrator. And when I say, “He raped me,” instead of, “I was raped,” I help you form that more complete narrative.

Let’s resolve to tell our stories with more effective and appropriate language. We have gone from victims to survivors, and from silence to #MeToo. It is now time for everyday discourse to tell the whole story.