FROM ‘VICTIM’ TO ‘SURVIVOR’: DECONSTRUCTING THE PERVASIVE NOTION OF VICTIMHOOD IN DISCOURSES AROUND PROGRAMMES DEALING WITH GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE

Social workers are among key professionals rendering empowerment services to people affected by gender-based violence in South Africa. These rendered within the developmental and approaches that were introduced post-apartheid era. Although introduction of democracy brought a paradigm shift towards approach, social welfare work, there is paucity research investigates utilisation concept “victim” harmed violence. The has not been extensively researched theoretically empirically. This article critically analyses usage work posits deconstruction pervasive notion victimhood discourses around programmes dealing with It hoped this will stimulate debates focused on labels adopted services, as well different societal contexts. Keywords: empowerment, survivor, victim