How we talk about violence …

Language Matters

How we talk about violence matters because it affects how we perceive and respond to violence and the people involved. We use language that is current and sensitive to people’s contexts. We use terms developed by people who have experienced violence. For example:

• Harm doer (instead of perpetrator). This term recognizes that harm doing is a role, not a fixed identity.
• Survivor (instead of victim). For people who survive violence, this term recognizes that being harmed is an experience, not an identity. A survivor of violence might work to resist the violent acts of others. They might work to minimize the impacts of violence or seek justice and healing.
• Person who carries out violence or person who experiences violence. These “person-first” terms are also alternatives to “perpetrator” or “victim.” This language applies to people who die by violence as well as those who survive. This language avoids labeling people; this is important because labels sometimes lead to bias.^[7]