Is 'victim-survivor' our imperfect alternative to describing people with lived experience of sexual violence? Exploring the meaning behind identity labels for victim-survivors using arts-based methods

Is 'victim-survivor' our imperfect alternative to describing people with lived experience of sexual violence?

Is 'victim-survivor' our imperfect alternative to describing people with lived experience of sexual violence? Exploring the meaning behind identity labels for victim-survivors using arts-based methods.

*Please note that this seminar will be held in person in S1, Alison Richard Building, 7 West Road, Cambridge CB3 9DP, and online via Zoom. If you would like to attend in-person, registration is not required. If you would like to attend online, please register your place in advance. Registration will close at 09.00 on Monday 23 February 2026.

Dr Laura Jane Bower is currently a Lecturer in Criminology and Victimology at the University of Portsmouth. She is also a member of the Victimology and Ecological Justice Group. Her work centres around using arts-based and creative methods in exploring victim-survivor identities with people with lived experiences of sexual assault, examining the #tradwife movement through a black feminist lens and understanding the role of secrecy in discourses of sexual violence.

The way we speak about victim-survivors of sexual violence matters as language usage impacts their sense of self and the way the realities of gender-based violence are constructed in broader society. We are caught in the grips of a debate surrounding the most appropriate language to describe people with lived experiences of sexual violence, with the most commonly selected as ‘victim,’ ‘survivor’, and ‘victim-survivor.’ This seminar will explore how all language is utilised by victim-survivors, showcasing artwork they have created, considering how ethnicity, gender and disability interact with language choice.

The UCCGS Gender Research Seminars offer academics and graduate students an opportunity to present their work-in-progress to a multi-disciplinary audience interested in gender, in a friendly and informal atmosphere. Seminars are held on specified days during Michaelmas and Lent and everyone is welcome to attend.