Survivor Discourse: Reclaiming Power After Child Sexual Abuse

Finding Strength in Survivor Identity

The term survivor, as opposed to victim, is often adopted by those who have redefined their experiences of child sexual abuse (CSA). It can reflect a reclaimed sense of agency and is sometimes linked with public testimony and activism. For many, adopting the term “survivor” signals a move from silence to empowerment, from invisibility to voice.

During the second wave of feminism, which began in the 1960s, women began gathering to share their experiences of sexual violence. One pivotal moment occurred on January 24th, 1971, when the New York Radical Feminists held the first ‘speak-out’ - a public gathering where women courageously shared their stories of sexual abuse. These events became foundational to feminist healing spaces, where testimony was politicised, and survivors were encouraged to see their experiences within broader systems of patriarchy and oppression.

The Risks and Power of Speaking Out

For survivors, coming to voice is layered with risk. To speak truthfully requires confronting:

• Perpetrator threats

• Societal taboos

• Internalized shame

• Protective survival mechanisms like dissociation or denial

Breaking silence can lead to profound healing - but also carries the potential for social exclusion, disbelief, or retraumatization. Still, many survivors choose to speak, not just for personal catharsis, but to challenge dominant narratives and support others.

Resilience and Growth After Trauma

In their 2017 study, Newsom and Myers-Bowman interviewed six female survivors of CSA to explore how they cultivated resilience. Key themes emerged:

• Reclaiming personal power

• Self-awareness and authenticity

• Pressing into pain

• Letting go of victim identity

• Embracing sexuality and self-advocacy

Survivors described feeling empowered, refreshed, and thankful as they moved toward healing. Though research in this area remains limited, these findings highlight the value of focusing on positive long-term outcomes after trauma. They also offer hope and a potential roadmap for survivors who feel lost or disconnected.

Survivor Identity and Systemic Silencing

Many survivors experience cultures of silence - in families, institutions, and wider society - that prevent open dialogue about abuse. Silencing is often reinforced by:

• Patriarchal systems

• Racial and gender biases

• Clinical language that pathologizes rather than empowers

Terms like ‘treatment’ can infantilize survivors, implying fragility rather than resilience. Those who speak out often find that their abuse becomes the central pillar of their identity, rather than one part of a much broader life story.

What we need is a survivor-centred epistemology - a way of understanding that:

• Recognizes both pain and strength

• Is culturally inclusive and trauma-informed

• Encourages multiple forms of storytelling and self-expression

• Values the wisdom gained through survival

Identity Beyond the Abuse

In the early stages of healing, trauma can dominate a survivor’s sense of self. But as the trauma is externalized, and survivors release misplaced responsibility, many begin to reclaim their whole selves.

Research by Phillips and Duniluk (2004) interviewed women at the end of their therapeutic journeys. They identified five key themes:

• Alignment between inner self and outer persona

• Expanded self-awareness

• Emergence of other aspects of identity

• Acceptance of grief

• A deeper sense of resilience and purpose

Their conclusion? The term ‘survivor’ can be both liberating and limiting. While it helps some claim power, it may also unintentionally re-anchor them in the abuse, overshadowing growth, joy, and individuality.

Toward an Inclusive Narrative of Healing

To fully understand the complexity of survivorship, we need more inclusive, intersectional research - particularly among marginalised groups, such as:

• Black and brown survivors

• LGBTQ+ survivors

• Disabled and neurodiverse communities

These voices are too often left out of mainstream narratives. Their stories and insights are essential for building a survivor movement that reflects the full diversity of human experience.

Conclusion: Honouring the Full Spectrum of Survival

Survivorship is not a static identity - it evolves. It may begin as a label of strength, but it should never become a cage. By exploring survivor narratives, supporting diverse voices, and focusing on resilience, growth, and justice, we can create a more compassionate, empowering culture around healing from child sexual abuse.

Let us centre the wisdom of survivors, rather than solely their wounds. In doing so, we begin to build a world where testimony is honoured, healing is holistic, and no one is silenced.

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References

NEWSOM, K and MYERS-BOWMAN, K., 2017. ‘I am not a Victim. I am a Survivor’: Resilience as a Journey for Female Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse (online). 26 (8), pp. 927-947.

PHILLIPS, A and DANILUK, J. C., 2004. Beyond ‘’Survivor’’: How Childhood Sexual Abuse Informs the Identity of Adult Women at the End of the Therapeutic Process. Journal of Counselling & Development (online). 82, pp. 177-184.