Ce que vivre une situation singulière veut dire : le cas des victimes

Abstract

Many studies focus on singularity in the social sciences. Resulting from a historical dynamic, singularity renews individualism by leaning it against an ideal: to be someone and to be recognized as such. The condition of victims rests precisely on this type of investment: it is based on a situation considered abnormal and about which individuals intend to obtain compensation. As such, it is a perfect anchor to question singularity and its social uses. Through an investigation about the mobilization of victims of a serial medical accident, I show that the estimation, by the injured, of their singularity is at the origin of their action. I subsequently highlight how the mobilization reorganizes singular stories into one. Finally, I demonstrate that this mobilization summons the singular situations to obtain compensation.

Keywords

• victim
• radiation overdose
• wrong
• use of singularity
• collective mobilization