In the wake of intense debates about the criminalisation of coercive control, academics have sought to determine what counts as coercive control and coercive behaviour in intimate partnerships, familial relations, and friendships. Behaviours that were once deemed acceptable are increasingly labelled as dangerous and abusive. This is in tension with the normalisation of abusive behaviour facilitated by technological advancements and social media, as well as societal and historical attitudes towards power dynamics.

But what is coercion? What do we mean by control? How do these concepts link with ideas of power, domination, injustice, and discrimination? How have these concepts changed over time? Can the concept successfully be translated across cultures or in different languages? Is there a benefit to thinking about modern terminology in relation to historical behaviours? Thinking beyond a purely legal approach, how is coercive control represented and understood in contemporary society, literature and culture? 

Understanding ‘Coercive Control’ is a symposium aimed at bringing together postgraduate students and early career researchers working on coercive control and associated concepts from a range of disciplinary backgrounds. Supported by the Coercive Control working group (funded by the ANU Gender Institute), presentations will be given by HDR students and ECRs from scholars across disciplines at ANU and beyond.

Morning tea and lunch provided. Please register here

Symposium program forthcoming