From Victim to Survivor to Thriver Angela Rose Diana K. Riser
Overview • Difficult Dialogue & Safe Space • Term: Victim vs. Survivor • Positive and Proactive Approach • Your role in making a difference • Time at the end for Q and A
Angela’s History 15+ years in the field with a unique blend: Educator - Trainings & Speeches to Military, Colleges, and Professional Groups Advocate - Founder of PAVE: Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment International – Working with US State Dept for International Issues of DV & SV Media Advocacy – CNN, OWN, Today Show Board Member - National Partnership to End Interpersonal Violence Survivor – Catapulted Into This Work
Diana’s History • 12+ years in the field… Educator - Trainings & Speeches to Community, Youth, Parents Advocate/Counselor – Rape Crisis Center Researcher- Psychology Survivor – Lead to a commitment to the field
Grounding in Our Space
My Story • Kidnapped from a shopping mall • Disbelieved by authorities • Enduring the criminal justice system • Founding PAVE: Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment
I am an anomaly • Statistically – I should never have made it out alive • Details I remembered – many survivors dissociate • Captured Animal – Somehow avoided paralysis
My Story •Child Sexual Abuse •Disbelieved by mother •Poverty, physical abuse, neglect •No CPS, no intervention •Psychology, Rape Crisis Center Work, Research on breaking the cycle (and the myths) & promoting resilience
The Commonalities • Immediate Support • Institutional Revictimization • Triggers • Speaking Out • Resilience
Myths About Sexual Assault • Most rapes and assaults are committed by a stranger • Many people false report • Women ask for it • Rape only happens to women • Victims should be crying • Victims should be pure • Weapons are typically used in sex crimes
Main Issues Victim Blaming Society Vastly Under-Reported Re-traumatized by institutions Lack of support
Everyone reacts differently to trauma