Feminist Witnessing: Everywhere All At Once: Coercive Control and the Impacts of Feminist Law Reform Efforts on Popular Culture

Abstract

ABSTRACT The term ‘coercive control’, referring to patterns of control, manipulation and abuse committed against current or former intimate partners and family members, has entered both the cultural and legal lexicon within the last ten years. Law reform efforts in common law countries, including Australia and the United Kingdom, have meant that coercive control is recognised as a crime in some jurisdictions. In this article I argue that the widespread recognition of coercive control as a damaging aspect of domestic violence serves as an example of how feminism, law and popular culture are in relation with one another. The concept has moved from feminist advocates to find expression in popular culture and then to new legislation. I suggest that the shift in public understanding of this concept, including importantly by legislators, is indicated by depictions of coercive control in popular culture and look at two examples from the 2010s: the Netflix television series Jessica Jones, and the Disney animated movie Tangled. Both emerge around the same time that feminist advocates begin to propose domestic violence legislation criminalising coercive control and coincide with the consolidated efforts of feminist lawyers working both nationally and internationally.