One of the reasons it is hard to be a victim of a crime (particularly stigmatized crime like child sexual abuse, rape, incest) is because the word victim is so charged.

How do you use the word victim? Do you use it as an insult? Oftentimes the word carries with it unnecessary layers of shame and negative connotations. 

Rape culture and victim shaming can be very subtle. One of the most common ways victims are shamed is by the very use of the word "victim." 

Check out my take on how common uses of the word "victim" shame and degrade those harmed by the actions of others.

I am a Victim -  Huffington Post

WROTE

I interviewed two former football players this week. One, a crowd favorite who suddenly left the game. Another, a UCLA player who didn't get to fulfill his NFL dreams and is now an actor. 

What happened to Isaac "Red-Zone" Redman? 


Donovan Carter: End of NFL Dream Leads to Stardom

I also wrote about what it is like to be a victim and how to support a victim. You can find those pieces at my Huffington Post blog. 

READ


Informative read on the use and misuse of HIPAA in the New York Times. Hipaa's Use as Code of Silence Often Misinterprets the Law.


There is a lot of news about PTSD in veterans, most of whom happen to be male. What about PTSD in women? What risks to they face? CNN reports that PTSD can increase heart attack and stroke risk in women.