The truth is, it’s more than assault.
In fact, there is even a name for it. It’s called “coercive control” and it is a destructive, isolating, and manipulative set of behaviors that victims of domestic abuse often face from their partners, ultimately causing them to feel or become trapped in their abusive relationships.
In a story published in The New York Times, the experiences of Congresswoman Cori Bush and the musician FKA twigs are recollected in detail. It’s a read worth taking the time for as it goes into great length and specifics about the issues surrounding domestic abuse, sharing the experiences of these two individuals in their own lives.
Domestic abuse can affect anyone.
In the story, Ms. Bush recollects instances where a former boyfriend, seemingly sweet in the beginning, turned into a violent relationship that left her harmed and feeling like she couldn’t leave because of the threats her then boyfriend made about inflicting further harm.
What started out as a seemingly loving relationship quickly took a turn for the worst, when what seemed to be harmless behaviors such as him answering her phone, turned into deeper behaviors of control and manipulation. At one point, he even fired a gun at her. But ultimately, and thankfully, she was a survivor.
Her goal in talking about her past experiences is to help normalize the conversion, helping bring the issue front and center, seeking justice for victims.
The article goes on to state that, “Ms. Bush’s candor comes as some state lawmakers, working with researchers, have begun to reshape the law to acknowledge that the controlling and isolating behaviors she cites, often referred to as “coercive control,” are not only steppingstones to violence, but can be criminally abusive in their own right. Activists hope that by broadening the definition of abuse, they can help victims reclaim their autonomy, and catch perpetrators before cases spiral toward hospitalization — or worse.”
With that being said, this addresses an age-old misconception that domestic abuse only involves violence. Rather, domestic abuse can simply mean the constriction of a person’s life as a result of someone else trying to dominate it. But that is not to say that physical violence is to be ignored at all. According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, on average, more than 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men in the US will experience rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner. So clearly, this is not a matter to be taken lightly.
What is coercive control?
Coercive control is a term that is used to describe the overall dynamics of abuse. That is to say, the acts and forms that collectively make up the issue of domestic abuse. Among these behaviors include isolation, financial restrictions, entrapment, and threats of emotional and/or physical harm. These behaviors are ultimately meant to strip victims of any power they have in a relationship.
However, sometimes these behaviors alone are not enough for the court systems to convict on abuse. Consequently, this causes essentially very little to be done legally until there is some sort of evidence that physical abuse has taken place. This is obviously a problem, because by that time, it could be too late and the damage too severe. And it is this challenge that lawmakers are ultimately trying to address.
With that being said, there are new laws that are meant to address coercive behaviors. But along with these laws come concerns among advocates who suggest that officials don’t yet have the tools necessary in order to identify, as well as prove the behaviors that accompany this problem. But by bringing this issue to the forefront and making it a critical discussion topic among lawmakers and society as a whole, only then will change and justice truly be able to be achieved for victims of abuse.
Helpful Resources
If you or someone you know is or may be a victim of abuse, there is help available by means of the National Domestic Violence Hotline website or by calling the Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). If you are wanting to speak to an attorney about a domestic abuse matter, we also encourage you to contact us.