Coercive Control

Coercive control is not just an issue for individuals, it is a major social problem that has its roots in patriarchal male sovereignty and sustains to be supported by social norms, laws, and institutions. For centuries our society has given more competencies to men than women, granted permission to monopolize women, permission to control female partners, and entitlement for men to get what they want from a woman.

In a relationship where you constantly feel nervous, afraid, and trapped? But seeing as the other person isn’t actually hurting you, you tell yourself it isn’t really abuse? It’s time to learn about coercive control. What the signs are have you been a victim of this or do you know someone who is in this type of negative relationship.

So What is coercive control?

Coercive control is now legally recognized as a type of abuse.

It involves someone you are personally connected to engaging in controlling patterns of behavior that leave you feeling afraid, dependent, trapped, and alone.

Examples of coercive control

• Monitoring: making you tell them where you are all the time, calling you non stop and punishing you if you don’t answer, looking at your social media accounts.
• Threatening: to break your things, to hurt or even kill your pet or your child, to hurt themselves, to hurt you, or leave you, or ruin you somehow.
• Damaging: your things, your self-esteem, your sense of self, your friendships, your family relationships, your capacity to earn a living.
• Belittling: putting you down, telling others negative things about you.
• Isolating: refusing to let you contact certain people, not letting you go out, cutting you off from or turning you against your family, or turning people you liked against you.
• Forcing: making you do things you don’t want to do, even things that are illegal. Making you do sexual things you don’t want to do, such as being the subject of nude photos.
• Confusing: convincing you did something you don’t remember doing, or changing the story of what they did or didn’t do until you question your own memories.

Can a MAN OR A WOMAN be a victim of coercive control?

Coercive behavior is an act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation, and intimidation or other abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten their victim.” It can happen to any man or any woman you just become a victim of your partner husband, or wife no matter what background, age, job, race, or sexuality. Anyone can fall or be pushed into the trap.

What is the punishment for coercive control?

When Gardai have enough evidence they will refer the matter to the office of the director of public prosecution. The DPP can start criminal proceedings against your abuser. If he or she is found guilty of an offence he can be sentenced to up to 5 years in prison or made to pay a fine or both. whatever the penalty they see fit for the crime. As of this year, 2021 people have received prison sentences for this crime.

The perpetrator will only be prosecuted for this crime if there is some evidence that it has happened on at least two occasions. There must also be evidence that the victim has feared that violence will be used against them, or that they have suffered serious alarm or distress which has affected their daily life.

Where to go for help

If you are a victim of coercive control or know someone who is, and there is an emergency that is ongoing or life is in danger, dial 112 from a mobile or fixed phone line. 112 also works in any EU country and from any phone, free of charge.