Thanks so much, Alix — I appreciate you writing this. I’ve always felt weird about the survivor/victim rhetoric. I understand that part of what helps us heal is in taking power back, but I think that our resistance to calling women victims in those circumstances can undermine our support. The reason sexual assault is so awful is because we are powerless and invaded, and it’s hard for me when any reaction/identification is prioritized over the other, as if there is a right way to react to sexual assault. There isn’t, plain and simple. If you fight back, you fight back. If you don’t, you don’t. You’re still assaulted, and it doesn’t say anything about your strength. Too often is “victim” synonymous with “weak.”