A victim is a person or animal that has been harmed, hurt, or killed because of a crime, accident, or other event. The word can also be used more generally for someone who suffers because of a situation.
From Latin 'victima', meaning 'sacrificial animal or person', used in religious offerings. Over time, English shifted the meaning from religious sacrifice to anyone who suffers harm.
Originally, a ‘victim’ was something offered up in a ritual, not just someone hurt by chance. That old meaning still echoes when we talk about people being ‘sacrificed’ for a cause or system. The word hints that suffering is often connected to someone else’s choices.
“Victim” is neutral in form but has been used within systems that often disbelieved or blamed women and gender minorities, especially in cases of sexual and domestic violence. Media and legal language have alternated between erasing victims’ agency and sensationalizing their suffering.
Use “victim” when legally or factually accurate, but avoid defining a person solely by victimhood; consider ‘survivor’ where communities prefer it. Do not imply blame or weakness, and respect self-chosen terms.
["survivor","target","affected person","injured party"]
When discussing victimization, highlight the resilience and activism of women and gender-diverse survivors who have driven reforms in law, healthcare, and social services.
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