EXTERNALLY FUNDED RESEARCH PROJECTS
The intersecting factors of coercive control experienced by First Nations women
Background
This research will explore the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and the intersecting factors that contribute to high rates of domestic, family and sexual violence (DFSV) and coercive control. The research aims to identify the intersectional factors that play a part in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women’s rates and experiences of coercive control. Through three studies outlined further in the PhD, the research will question the current definition of coercive control, coercive control legislation, and the intersectional factors that contribute to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women's experiences of coercive control. The PhD will bring to light the lack of cultural knowledge in the coercive control definition and how this will disproportionality impact Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women experiencing DFSV.
Aim
This research project aims to explore First Nations women's understanding and experiences of coercive control and the different factors (e.g. age, race, systems, experiences, gender) that intersect (come into contact with our lives and journeys) with First Nation women's experiences of coercive control (type of domestic and family violence). The researcher(s) will invite First Nations women, identified through participating organisations and stakeholders supporting First Nation women, to participate in Yarning Circles. The Yarning Circles and semi-structured interviews will discuss:
- First Nations women's understanding and experiences of coercive control, and how these shape their definition of coercive control
- the intersecting factors and experiences of coercive control
- the service gaps and strategies required to support First Nations women experiencing coercive control.
Methods
The research data will be gathered through a mixed methods approach, including:
- legislative review
- individual and group Yarning
- in-person or online Yarning with First Nation women
- in-person or online semi-structured Yarns with critical stakeholders.
The Yarning semi-structured interviews will involve the participants exploring their understanding of coercive control, what this feels and looks like, from a systems, community and intimate partner violence (IPV) level. The sense of coercive control will be provided through a visual lens. The terminology of coercive control is currently not culturally safe to understand. Therefore, to provide an understanding of the current coercive control measuring mechanism, we must first gather First Nation knowledge on what this looks, feels and sounds like from their perspective.