This video examines the choice of words used to describe people who have committed sexual offenses and shows how these terms are not neutral, particularly in terms of prevention. It specifically compares the common use of the word "predator" with the expressions "perpetrator of a sexual offense" or "perpetrator of sexual violence.".
The term "predator" evokes an animalistic, caricatured image, far removed from the clinical and statistical reality of sexual violence. It suggests a monstrous figure, external to society, who always acts in a calculated and strategic manner. However, the majority of sexual violence is committed in ordinary contexts, by people known to the victims, and rarely according to a premeditated hunting strategy. This representation obscures real-life risk situations and makes early detection more difficult.
This terminology also poses a problem for victims. When a child or adult experiences violence at the hands of a loved one, the image of the "predator" can hinder the recognition of their experience, creating a disconnect between public discourse and the lived reality. It can lead to minimizing the abuse or to disengaging from prevention messages.
For those who have committed, or are at risk of committing, sexual violence, the term "predator" is equally counterproductive. It traps them in an inhuman, stigmatizing identity that does not encourage awareness, seeking help, or preventing them from committing or reoffending.
The term "perpetrator of sexual violence," preferred in the field of health and prevention, focuses on the act rather than the identity. It acknowledges the seriousness of the facts, while leaving open the possibility of working on responsibility, understanding the mechanisms at play, preventing recidivism and, where possible, providing social redress.
The video emphasizes that naming things precisely is not about minimizing, but rather about creating the conditions for effective prevention. Words can exclude and blind, or conversely, enable us to understand, identify, and act. In matters of sexual violence, the choice of terms has concrete effects on the protection of individuals and on our collective capacity to prevent such violence.
