According to the Webster Dictionary the definitions of victims are a person who has been attacked, robbed, injured, or killed by someone else, a person who is cheated or fooled by someone else, and/or someone that has been harmed by an unpleasant event. Under these definitions it would be safe to assume that at some point in every American’s life, we have all been a victim of some sort at some time. What happens to us? Who protects us? Who stands up for our rights as a victim? Sadly, at some point in our lives we must realize that we must overcome our victim status and move on even if the person responsible goes unpunished. Victims can be any race, age, gender, or religion. Some are rich, poor, healthy, or ill. Some victims have …show more content…
If they have been sexually assaulted they must be examined which is honestly frightening and makes a victim feel almost as if they are being assaulted again. The nurses can be wonderful and understanding but the feel of someone touching the victim is the last thing needed. The victim is given information for therapists but often times talking about it with a stranger makes a victim feel like they are reliving the assault. Blame is sometimes placed on the victim as well. Did the person end up somewhere she or he should not have been? Did a victim dress inappropriately? Did the victim somehow ask for the assault? Ironically, there are many victims who do not report because of these reasons. The fear and embarrassment is too much for them to bare. In domestic violence the spouse may have too much to lose. There is a definite feeling that the children could suffer more if they leave. Even in this day in age, it still holds true. There are many levels of victims and the victim pays the cost for years and sometimes even a lifetime. Often times the physical scars heal but the mental scars do not. Those scars can ruin a person’s life and even the people who are closest to as well. Some victims turn to drugs to cover the hurt and escape in a needle or bottle. Others hide away and lose touch of reality. Victims suffer over and …show more content…
That number is astounding yet it happens in our own back yards and we do not realize it. The abuse ranged from neglect, to physical, mental, and even sexual abuse, to death. Each and every child in those statistics were victims. Will they overcome the scars? Will they abuse their own children one day? Those numbers do not reflect the other side of the victim chart. The social workers, police, doctors, and even the children’s friends who can no longer sleep because the images do not disappear. Police have also learned more about children through the years. I have witnessed police holding a child to calm him or her. I have seen silent tears as the police help remove a child from a home. I have also witnessed rage held in as they arrest a person who has hurt a child. As a child I was witness on a daily basis to my mother being beaten and even raped. My biological father even beat me when I tried to stop him from hurting my mother. The last time was when he set our house on fire and left my mother, sister, and I locked in. We were victims that were overlooked because of who he was and who he was related to. Several step fathers later; my mother again was a victim that was beaten on an almost daily basis. I was a teenager and stepped in several times. My punishment was being molested. I was always told he would kill my mother if I told. Sadly, I believed him and kept