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. 

It's often not physical at first and sometimes never is. This makes the behaviour difficult to recognize. Additionally, the manipulation can be disguised as love. 

Yet, between 60 and 80 per cent of women who seek help for intimate partner violence have experienced coercive control, according to the group. 

The new website — controlecoercitif.ca — allows users to navigate tools and readings through three themed routes: understand, identify and act. There is also an interactive page that offers stories based on women's lived experiences as well as an FAQ to learn about the concept of coercive control and the push to criminalize it in Canada.

The website is currently only offered in French but will be available in English within the next few weeks.

To learn more about the new tool, watch the video at the top of this story. 

If you are affected by domestic violence, SOS violence conjugale is a provincewide toll-free crisis line, available 24/7. You can reach them at 1-800-363-9010 by phone, or via text at 438-601-1211. ​​If you're in immediate danger or fear for your safety or that of others around you, please call 911.