Abstract
In the field of domestic violence law, there is a lack of uniformity in the terms used to refer to those who harm others and those who experience that harm. This Article examines the meaning and cultural and legal prevalence of the terms: Victim, Survivor, Victim-Survivor, and Battered Wife/Spouse; and Abuser, Batterer, Perpetrator, and People who have Caused Harm, as well as Offender, Respondent, and Defendant. As an essential tool of persuasion, an analysis of these terms reveals that understanding the impact of these words is tantamount to respectful and empathetic advocacy.
Recommended Citation
Evan Lovell,
The Words We Choose: An Analysis of Terms Used in Domestic Violence Law,
49
S. Ill. U. L.J.
459
(2025).
Available at:
https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/siulj/vol49/iss3/8