“It’s just men taking an interest’: Obscuring understanding and recognition of coercive control

Abstract

This article, grounded in feminist empirical research, explores women’s perceptions of domestic violence and their routes to help-seeking, irrespective of personal experiences with domestic violence and abuse. It highlights how societal norms reinforce women’s subjugation through seemingly harmless ideas like "men just taking an interest" or a "woman’s desire to please." In line with Kirkwood’s (1993) concept of the "distortion of a woman’s subjective reality," the study reveals how women often unknowingly adapt their lives through unrecognised elements of coercive control. Deeply ingrained gendered norms perpetuate this control by subtly manipulating women's daily routines, obscuring abusive behaviour in intimate heterosexual relationships. The article argues that this manipulation starts early, making coercive control harder to recognise and resist. Ultimately, the study concludes that despite feminist efforts, societal norms continue to reinforce traditional gender roles, limiting women’s autonomy and sustaining patriarchal dominance. Concluding that unless there is a shift in these norms women's independence in such relationships will remain constraint