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Glite Dictionary
victim feminism

victim feminism

9.7
A view that describes women mainly as helpless and without power
  • noun
  • /ˈvɪktɪm ˈfɛmɪnɪzəm/
  • Jargon
translation icon : feminismo de la víctima
  • Some critics argue that victim feminism focuses too much on women's vulnerabilities rather than their strengths.

Examples

  • The debate between victim feminism and empowerment feminism is common in academic circles.

  • Many scholars criticize victim feminism for its focus on women's suffering.

  • She challenges the assumptions underlying victim feminism in her writing.

  • Some argue that victim feminism can lead to a lack of agency.

  • Many scholars criticize victim feminism for portraying women as passive and focusing solely on their suffering.

  • Critics of victim feminism claim that it emphasizes victimhood instead of celebrating women's empowerment and achievements.

  • The concept of victim feminism emphasizes the experiences of women who feel marginalized and victimized in society.

Antonyms

empowerment
49 3.9

The process of becoming stronger, more confident, and able to make choices

Surface Forms

victim feminism singular
victim feminisms plural

Morphology

victim + feminism

The compound 'victim feminism' is compositionally built from 'victim' + 'feminism', so a learner who knows both words can infer it refers to a strand of feminism focused on victimhood. However, the evaluative and academic nuance (that it emphasizes women's suffering and is often criticized) is specialized and not fully predictable from the parts, so some prior exposure is needed to grasp the critical connotation.

Etymology

The term victim feminism may come from critics who saw some kinds of feminism as always talking about women as victims. So, the phrase means a view that focuses on women's 'being victims' or 'being passive' rather than on their 'strength'.