Healthcare and legal systems responses to coercive control: an embodied performance of one woman’s experience

• DOI: 10.1080/14461242.2024.2347969
• Publication Date: 2024-05-31T18:27:42Z
• Authors: Judy Rose; Toni McCallum; Menka Tsantefski; Zoe Rathus
• Keywords: Healthcare system

This paper uses a drama-based method to illustrate the responses of healthcare and legal systems women experiencing coercive control. approach involved writing play using first-person narrative voice victim-survivor. We presented at Stop Domestic Violence Conference (Gold Coast, Australia) in 2021. The central character, 'Kate', provided an embodied performance that enabled conference participants see, feel understand experiences control from personal perspective. followed trajectory beginning intimate relationship time separation. showed how process escalates love bombing, reproductive coercion, isolation, technology-facilitated abuse until point police intervention. As Kate told her story, audience witnessed barriers challenges faced by survivors control, emotional, financial, psychological impacts are intensified geographically remote environments. They watched navigate health other meant help domestic family violence, but ultimately failed deliver. Finally, allowed us present feminist embodiment innovative for communicating inter-disciplinary research findings on abuse.