A Critical Discourse Analysis of Violence against Women: From D.A.R.V.O. to Institutional Courage

This book presents a critical analysis of the language surrounding Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG), demonstrating how discourse can both sustain harm and serve as a catalyst for healing and change. Grounded in Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), it examines the “DARVO” tactic—Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender (Freyd, 1997)—a manipulative strategy used by perpetrators to evade accountability, silence survivors, and reinforce a culture of victim-blaming. Through detailed case s...