Chouliaraki observes that the pandemic prompted a new rhetoric of victimhood, particularly among those resisting public health measures, framing their opposition as being victimized by government overreach.
In her analysis, she draws parallels between the COVID-19 discourse and the #MeToo movement, illustrating how the language of victimhood has become a battleground for power and recognition.
Chouliaraki points to how victimhood can be weaponized by powerful individuals or groups, transforming from a genuine expression of trauma into a strategic assertion of power.
The author emphasizes that while many may genuinely identify as victims, the public sphere complicates this identity, particularly when it becomes a tool for political or social leverage.
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