Healthy Relationships

Coercive Control

coercive control can include any combination of family violence or relationship violence behaviours used by a person to create a pattern or system of behaviours intended to harm, punish, frighten, dominate, isolate, degrade, monitor or stalk, regulate and subordinate the victim-survivor.

CULTURAL BARRIERS

Gender norms or expectations:
beliefs that women should be submissive or that violence is a “private family matter.”

Fear of cultural stigma:
concern that reporting violence will bring dishonour or shame to the family or community.

Language or communication barriers: difficulty accessing support or explaining the situation due to limited English or lack of culturally safe services.

PSYCHOLOGICAL BARRIERS

Shame or self-blame:
feeling responsible for the abuse or embarrassed to disclose it.

Fear of not being believed:
anxiety that others will dismiss or minimise their experience.

Emotional dependence on perpetrator:
feeling attached, hopeful things will improve, or worried about upsetting the abuser

PRACTICAL BARRIERS

Financial dependence:
relying on the abuser for income, housing, or basic needs.

Limited access to services:
lack of transport, childcare, or living in a remote area where support options are scarce.

Safety concerns:
fear of retaliation, escalation of violence, or surveillance by the perpetrator.