How can someone be a victim, when they don't even believe themselves to victims?

Question

Addition:
Is it necessary to know that you are a victim? Does someone have to tell you that you are a victim.

Addition:
So what about consensual agreement between two legal adults.

Addition:

So what is the connection?

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AjaEG3eqantUpO0ZoVrt4SLsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20071230105603AAXBSzy

If both adults are consenting, following the law, and both think that they are not being harmed so why can't people just let them live and let live? Why impose your idea of morality or right/wrong on them?

Answer 1

I can think of a lot of cases where this would happen. Some women, for example, are abused and don't see themselves as victims. They have been convinced that they deserve this or that it is normal and acceptable.

Answer 2

It is easy to be a victim and not believe that you are. Often hostages will eventually "bound" with their captors. People raised as slaves will often "believe" that it is their lot in life.

Edit:
Consensual implies that both agreed to the actions before the "event", this would seem to eliminate being a victim, but still it is possible for one party to victimize the other. For example, buying a used car is a consensual act, but the dealer may knowingly sell the buyer an unsafe or poorly maintained car.

Edit 2:
I did not see any mention of "victim" in the answers given in the previous question.

Answer 3

as they say "Ignorance is bliss" you can be a victim, and not even know it when you are subject to unfair taxes, discrimination that has been masked by a poor performance review. You can be a victim by being lied to dirrectly or indirectly. You can be a victim if you follow a faith blinldy with out knowing it's history or true intent. You can be a victim by taking things at face value and not conducting your own research. You can be a victim by asking how are you a victim if you don't think you are a victim. Live is not a passive activity. You must engage your world and you beliefes to actualy effect a change in this world.

Answer 4

The law sometimes defines who is a victim. If a consenting sexual partner is legally underage, he/she is a victim under the law. The people involved are expected to know that it is wrong and not do it. The law is based on the idea that the person is too young to understand the situation and possible problems, and should be protected.

Answer 5

The word 'victim' has a specific meaning. You can be a victim of, say, deception without realising it or believing it.

Could you perhaps say what context you are thinking of?

Edit: If you are referring to an activity between two consenting adults that affects nobody else then the word 'victim' isn't appropriate.

Answer 6

Iit would help if you mentioned a specific case (if you're thinking of one). However, often people who are downtrodden or exploited have been conditioned to think that the way they're treated is the natural order of things. For instance, abused children often think that somehow they deserve the mistreatment their parents deal out. Anyone who sees the results nevertheless knows that someone is being victimized.

Answer 7

Quite often someone considers themselves a victim when "the wounds are fresh" In time those able to gain perspective do and realize its the hardest things we endure which we gain the most strength through. We all have heard people forgive things seemingly unforgivable. A strength attained through tribulation

Answer 8

Sounds like the perfect victim! Can I have that person's number?

Answer 9

When something unjust is done to someone (whether they see it or not) they could be referred to as a victim. If they do not believe it was unjust then they would not consider themselves such, but others may. I think its a matter of perspective.

Answer 10

Yes, you can be a victim without knowing it. E.g. someone steals money from your bank account without you knowing. You are a victim of fraud. You then run out of cash without realizing why.