What is coercive control? New tool helps victims of intimate partner violence recognize it

It’s often referred to as the hidden side of domestic violence, but a Quebec women’s group says coercive control is at the heart of many instances of this abuse.

That’s why the Regroupement des maisons pour femmes victimes de violence conjugale (RMFVVC) has launched a website about this more subtle form of intimate partner violence — including how to spot it and stop it.

Coercive control can be defined as a set of behaviours a partner uses to cause fear and isolate a victim from friends and family. It deprives a victim of their freedom, little by little, and it can easily go unnoticed.

“It’s very diverse and sometimes it’s going to start slowly and by the time the victim realizes it’s not normal, the spiderweb will already be around her,” said Karine Barrette, a lawyer and project manager with RMFVVC.

“It’s difficult to get [out] of that situation.”

Examples of coercive control can include someone who constantly accompanies their partner to work, who asks them to share their location “in case of an emergency,” who is jealous of her relationships with her loved ones or who makes negative comments about the way she dresses, according to RMFVVC. Link to full story here.