13 research outputs found
Does Domestic Violence Disappear from Parental Alienation Cases? Five Lessons from Quebec for Judges, Scholars, and Policymakers
The theory of parental alienationâwhich asserts that children who reject one parent are brainwashed by the other parentâhas often been used to punish caring mothers and grant custody to dangerous fathers. The legal communityâs quick infatuation with this concept has sparked fiery debates between its proponents and domestic violence scholars. My research contributes to this urgent conversation by shedding new light on the role of domestic violence in parental alienation cases.
I observe how series of cases involving the same family deal with the issue of domestic violence. This method reveals a worrisome âdisappearing actâ: as families repeatedly interact with the justice system, domestic violence tends to leave the picture. The result? A distortion: most women accused of parental alienation are victims of conjugal violence, yet the jurisprudence barely addresses this issue. The disappearance of domestic violence creates the impression that it is the exception, rather than the norm, in parental alienation cases.
I draw five lessons from the Quebec jurisprudence:
1) The prevalence of domestic violence in parental alienation cases is higher than we think;
2) This is because domestic violence, alleged or proven at first instance, is often ignored on appeal;
3) Domestic violence should instead be given centre stage in parental alienation cases;
4) Considering parental alienation while ignoring domestic violence is a form of bias against women;
5) Stating that the parental alienation framework applies unless there is domestic violence does not protect victims of undisclosed violence.
The concept of parental alienation is dangerous for victims of family violence; thus, scholars suggest that when intimate partner violence is proven, the parental alienation framework should not apply. This caveat is not enough. My study challenges the conventional belief that domestic violence can be treated as a mere exception to parental alienation, calling for legal actors to reconsider the role of parental alienation in custody disputes
'But if you can't rape your wife, who can you rape?' toward a course-of-conduct offence centring partner sexual coercion in Canada
Despite the removal of the marital exemption to rape 40 years ago in Canada, the law still fails to treat partner sexual assault on par with other sexual assaults. Starting from the norm of stranger rape, it struggles to make sense of partner sexual violence in a culture that normalizes sexually coercive behaviours. Because partner sexual violence presents a serious empirical, social, and legal problem, it deserves to receive primary consideration and should not be treated by legal scholars as a mere exception to the stranger rape model. This process of âcentringâ partner sexual violence enables me to identify a gap in the law and propose new avenues to address chronic and non-physically forced sexual violence.
Noting that the stranger rape model presupposes a unique interaction between victim and offender, I work by analogy with coercive control to criticize the âincident modelâ of sexual assault. I work âbottom-upâ from the empirical reality of partner sexual violence to propose creating course-of-conduct provisions criminalizing repeatedly engaging in pre-defined acts of sexual coercion. Developing criminal provisions that are behaviourally specific and that do not require proving non-consent (among other features) produces a strategy that could pre-empt the implementation problems that plague the legal response to partner sexual violence.
Beyond its exploration of concrete legal reform possibilities, my work contributes to the sexual violence field by focusing on the context of intimate relationships, which is often neglected by legal scholarship. My research confronts the injustices still faced by victims of partner sexual violence and opens up new ways of thinking about legal responses to sexual violations
Crazy Women and Hysterical Mothers: The Gendered Use of Mental-Health Labels in Custody Disputes
This research studies the use of gendered mental-health labels, such as âcrazy,â âhysterical,â âinsane,â and âemotionally unstable,â in Canadian custody cases decided between 2000 and 2016. Building on Judith Mosoffâs work on gender and mental health stigma in custody proceedings, it maps how these âpop-psychologyâ labels impact custody litigation. This investigation reveals that mental-health labels serve to discredit the mother, attack her parenting abilities, and distract from her allegations of violence by the father. The article also explores fathersâ, mental health expertsâ, and judgesâ roles in framing the motherâs credibility and parental capacity with regard to her alleged mental instability. It observes how the unjustified use of mental-health labels can backfire against the father, and how mothers can link out-of-court mental-health insults to legal arguments supporting their claim for custody. Although producing varied consequences, mental-health labels often reinforce gender biases and myths regarding domestic violence
Disparue comme par magie ? La violence conjugale dans les cas dâaliĂ©nation parentale au QuĂ©bec
La theÌorie de lâ« alieÌnation parentale » â qui affirme que des enfants rejettent un parent en raison dâun lavage de cerveau fait par lâautre parent â a souvent eÌteÌ utiliseÌe pour punir des meÌres attentionneÌes et accorder la garde aÌ des peÌres dangereux. Lâengouement fulgurant de la communauteÌ juridique pour ce concept a donc susciteÌ des deÌbats enflammeÌs entre ses partisan·es et les chercheur·ses en violence conjugale.
Mon article contribue aÌ cette conversation urgente en jetant un eÌclairage nouveau sur le roÌle de la violence conjugale dans les cas dâalieÌnation parentale.
Jâobserve comment des seÌries de jugements impliquant la meÌme famille abordent lâenjeu de la violence conjugale. Cette meÌthode reÌveÌle un pheÌnomeÌne inquieÌtant: la disparition de la violence conjugale. Lorsque des familles interagissent de manieÌre reÌpeÌteÌe avec le systeÌme judiciaire, la question de la violence conjugale a tendance aÌ disparaitre. Le reÌsultat ? Une distorsion : la plupart des femmes accuseÌes dâalieÌnation parentale sont victimes de violence conjugale, mais la jurisprudence aborde aÌ peine cette question. La disparition de la violence conjugale donne lâimpression quâelle est lâexception, plutoÌt que la norme, dans les cas dâalieÌnation parentale.
Je tire cinq leçons de la jurisprudence queÌbeÌcoise :
1) La violence conjugale est plus reÌpandue quâon ne le pense dans les cas dâalieÌnation parentale ;
2) La violence conjugale, alleÌgueÌe ou prouveÌe en premieÌre instance, est souvent dissimuleÌe en appel ;
3) La violence conjugale doit eÌtre correctement identifieÌe dans les cas dâalieÌnation parentale ;
4) ConsideÌrer lâalieÌnation parentale tout en ignorant la violence conjugale est une forme de biais sexiste ;
5) DeÌclarer que le cadre de lâalieÌnation parentale sâapplique sauf en cas de violence conjugale nâest pas suffisant pour proteÌger les femmes et les enfants.
Le concept dâalieÌnation parentale est dangereux pour les victimes de violence familiale. Câest pourquoi les partisan·es de cette theÌorie suggeÌrent souvent que le cadre de lâalieÌnation parentale ne devrait pas sâappliquer lorsque la violence conjugale est deÌmontreÌe. Or, cette exception aÌ lâapplicabiliteÌ du concept dâalieÌnation parentale est insuffisante. Mon eÌtude remet en question lâideÌe reçue selon laquelle la violence conjugale peut eÌtre traiteÌe comme une simple exception au paradigme de lâalieÌnation parentale, et appelle les actrice·teurs juridiques aÌ reconsideÌrer le roÌle de lâalieÌnation parentale dans les litiges relatifs aÌ la garde des enfants
Disparue comme par magie ? La violence conjugale dans les cas dâaliĂ©nation parentale au QuĂ©bec
La theÌorie de lâ« alieÌnation parentale » â qui affirme que des enfants rejettent un parent en raison dâun lavage de cerveau fait par lâautre parent â a souvent eÌteÌ utiliseÌe pour punir des meÌres attentionneÌes et accorder la garde aÌ des peÌres dangereux. Lâengouement fulgurant de la communauteÌ juridique pour ce concept a donc susciteÌ des deÌbats enflammeÌs entre ses partisan·es et les chercheur·ses en violence conjugale.
Mon article contribue aÌ cette conversation urgente en jetant un eÌclairage nouveau sur le roÌle de la violence conjugale dans les cas dâalieÌnation parentale.
Jâobserve comment des seÌries de jugements impliquant la meÌme famille abordent lâenjeu de la violence conjugale. Cette meÌthode reÌveÌle un pheÌnomeÌne inquieÌtant: la disparition de la violence conjugale. Lorsque des familles interagissent de manieÌre reÌpeÌteÌe avec le systeÌme judiciaire, la question de la violence conjugale a tendance aÌ disparaitre. Le reÌsultat ? Une distorsion : la plupart des femmes accuseÌes dâalieÌnation parentale sont victimes de violence conjugale, mais la jurisprudence aborde aÌ peine cette question. La disparition de la violence conjugale donne lâimpression quâelle est lâexception, plutoÌt que la norme, dans les cas dâalieÌnation parentale.
Je tire cinq leçons de la jurisprudence queÌbeÌcoise :
1) La violence conjugale est plus reÌpandue quâon ne le pense dans les cas dâalieÌnation parentale ;
2) La violence conjugale, alleÌgueÌe ou prouveÌe en premieÌre instance, est souvent dissimuleÌe en appel ;
3) La violence conjugale doit eÌtre correctement identifieÌe dans les cas dâalieÌnation parentale ;
4) ConsideÌrer lâalieÌnation parentale tout en ignorant la violence conjugale est une forme de biais sexiste ;
5) DeÌclarer que le cadre de lâalieÌnation parentale sâapplique sauf en cas de violence conjugale nâest pas suffisant pour proteÌger les femmes et les enfants.
Le concept dâalieÌnation parentale est dangereux pour les victimes de violence familiale. Câest pourquoi les partisan·es de cette theÌorie suggeÌrent souvent que le cadre de lâalieÌnation parentale ne devrait pas sâappliquer lorsque la violence conjugale est deÌmontreÌe. Or, cette exception aÌ lâapplicabiliteÌ du concept dâalieÌnation parentale est insuffisante. Mon eÌtude remet en question lâideÌe reçue selon laquelle la violence conjugale peut eÌtre traiteÌe comme une simple exception au paradigme de lâalieÌnation parentale, et appelle les actrice·teurs juridiques aÌ reconsideÌrer le roÌle de lâalieÌnation parentale dans les litiges relatifs aÌ la garde des enfants
Parental Alienation in Quebec Custody Litigation
This article is a study of all Quebec custody cases dealing with parental alienation in 2016. It explores the definitions, findings and implications of parental alienation in legal disputes, in light of the models of parental alienation and parental alienation syndrome described in the academic literature. This research confirms feministsâ skepticism toward the use of parental alienation in custody litigation. It concludes that alienation has varying and inconsistent definitions in law, that there is a considerable disconnect between scientific knowledge and judgesâ understanding of alienation, and that the concept of parental alienation in law is ambiguous and over-inclusive, seemingly to the detriment of mothers. There is a dire need for clearer and stricter guidelines on the use of parental alienation to ensure the accuracy, coherence, and fairness of the case law.Le prĂ©sent article analyse toutes les dĂ©cisions de garde traitant dâaliĂ©nation parentale rendues au QuĂ©bec en 2016. Il explore les dĂ©finitions et les consĂ©quences de lâaliĂ©nation parentale dans les disputes relatives Ă la garde dâenfant au regard des modĂšles dâaliĂ©nation parentale et de syndrome dâaliĂ©nation parentale dĂ©crits dans la littĂ©rature scientifique. Cette recherche confirme le scepticisme des autrices fĂ©ministes envers lâutilisation de lâaliĂ©nation parentale en droit. En effet, un fossĂ© existe entre les connaissances scientifiques et la comprĂ©hension judiciaire de ce phĂ©nomĂšne. LâaliĂ©nation parentale oscille entre diverses dĂ©finitions juridiques contradictoires, ambiguĂ«s et dâapplication trop large qui semblent opĂ©rer au dĂ©triment des mĂšres. Des rĂšgles plus strictes quant Ă lâutilisation du concept dâaliĂ©nation parentale dans la jurisprudence quĂ©bĂ©coise en amĂ©lioreraient la cohĂ©rence, la justesse et la lĂ©gitimitĂ©.En el presente artĂculo se analizan los casos de custodia decididos en Quebec en 2016 que tratan de alienaciĂłn parental. Se exploran las definiciones e implicaciones de la alienaciĂłn parental en estos litigios a la luz de los modelos de alienaciĂłn parental y del sĂndrome de la alienaciĂłn parental descritos en la literatura acadĂ©mica. Esta investigaciĂłn confirma el escepticismo de autoras feministas hacia la utilizaciĂłn de la alienaciĂłn parental en conflictos de custodia. De hecho, la alienaciĂłn parental recibe definiciones jurĂdicas variables e inconsistentes. Existe una brecha importante entre los conocimientos cientĂficos y la interpretaciĂłn judicial de la alienaciĂłn, la cual es ambigua y de aplicaciĂłn muy extensa. Dicha ambigĂŒedad parece ir en detrimento de las madres. Se requieren reglas mĂĄs estrictas sobre la utilizaciĂłn de la alienaciĂłn parental en la jurisprudencia para asegurar su coherencia, exactitud y legitimidad
Does Domestic Violence Disappear from Parental Alienation Cases? Five Lessons from Quebec for Judges, Scholars, and Policymakers
The theory of parental alienationâwhich asserts that children who reject one parent are brainwashed by the other parentâhas often been used to punish caring mothers and grant custody to dangerous fathers. The legal communityâs quick infatuation with this concept has sparked fiery debates between its proponents and domestic violence scholars. My research contributes to this urgent conversation by shedding new light on the role of domestic violence in parental alienation cases.
I observe how series of cases involving the same family deal with the issue of domestic violence. This method reveals a worrisome âdisappearing actâ: as families repeatedly interact with the justice system, domestic violence tends to leave the picture. The result? A distortion: most women accused of parental alienation are victims of conjugal violence, yet the jurisprudence barely addresses this issue. The disappearance of domestic violence creates the impression that it is the exception, rather than the norm, in parental alienation cases.
I draw five lessons from the Quebec jurisprudence:
1) The prevalence of domestic violence in parental alienation cases is higher than we think;
2) This is because domestic violence, alleged or proven at first instance, is often ignored on appeal;
3) Domestic violence should instead be given centre stage in parental alienation cases;
4) Considering parental alienation while ignoring domestic violence is a form of bias against women;
5) Stating that the parental alienation framework applies unless there is domestic violence does not protect victims of undisclosed violence.
The concept of parental alienation is dangerous for victims of family violence; thus, scholars suggest that when intimate partner violence is proven, the parental alienation framework should not apply. This caveat is not enough. My study challenges the conventional belief that domestic violence can be treated as a mere exception to parental alienation, calling for legal actors to reconsider the role of parental alienation in custody disputes
Crazy Women and Hysterical Mothers: The Gendered Use of Mental-Health Labels in Custody Disputes
This research studies the use of gendered mental-health labels, such as âcrazy,â âhysterical,â âinsane,â and âemotionally unstable,â in Canadian custody cases decided between 2000 and 2016. Building on Judith Mosoffâs work on gender and mental health stigma in custody proceedings, it maps how these âpop-psychologyâ labels impact custody litigation. This investigation reveals that mental-health labels serve to discredit the mother, attack her parenting abilities, and distract from her allegations of violence by the father. The article also explores fathersâ, mental health expertsâ, and judgesâ roles in framing the motherâs credibility and parental capacity with regard to her alleged mental instability. It observes how the unjustified use of mental-health labels can backfire against the father, and how mothers can link out-of-court mental-health insults to legal arguments supporting their claim for custody. Although producing varied consequences, mental-health labels often reinforce gender biases and myths regarding domestic violence
Parental Alienation in Quebec Custody Litigation
This thesis is a study of all Quebec custody cases dealing with parental alienation in 2016. It explores the definitions, findings, and implications of parental alienation in legal disputes, in light of the models of parental alienation and parental alienation syndrome described in the academic literature. This research confirms feministsâ skepticism towards the use of parental alienation in custody litigation. It concludes that alienation has varying and inconsistent definitions in law, that there is a considerable disconnect between the state of the research in science and judgesâ knowledge on alienation, and that the concept of parental alienation in law is ambiguous and over-inclusive, seemingly to the detriment of mothers. There is a dire need for clearer and stricter guidelines on the use of parental alienation in Quebec jurisprudence to ensure its accuracy, coherence, and fairness.
Cette thĂšse est une Ă©tude de toutes les dĂ©cisions de garde dâenfant traitant dâaliĂ©nation parentale rendues au QuĂ©bec en 2016. Elle explore les dĂ©finitions, les raisonnements et les implications associĂ©es Ă lâaliĂ©nation parentale dans les litiges, Ă la lumiĂšre des modĂšles dâaliĂ©nation parentale et de syndrome dâaliĂ©nation parentale dĂ©veloppĂ©s dans la littĂ©rature acadĂ©mique. Cette recherche confirme les prĂ©occupations des fĂ©ministes quant Ă lâutilisation du concept dâaliĂ©nation parentale dans les litiges sur la garde. Elle conclut que lâaliĂ©nation a des dĂ©finitions variĂ©es et contradictoires en droit, quâun fossĂ© sĂ©pare lâĂ©tat de la recherche en science et les connaissances des juges, et que le concept dâaliĂ©nation parentale en droit est ambigu et trop large, vraisemblablement au dĂ©triment des mĂšres. Cette recherche conclut au besoin criant de lignes directrices claires et plus strictes relativement Ă lâutilisation de lâaliĂ©nation parentale dans la jurisprudence quĂ©bĂ©coise, afin dâen assurer lâexactitude, la cohĂ©rence et lâĂ©quitĂ©.LL.M