Understanding Women's Experiences of Victimization in Cults

• In Event: Exploring Experiences of Victimization Risks and Consequences Across a Range of Contexts

Abstract

This talk will focus on the specific experiences of women in cults. According to the limited literature available, it seems that the cultic context provides an opportunity for leaders and the groups they have created to use psychological and sexual violence against women. Violence, gender inequalities, power relations and stigmatization that women have suffered for decades in society are found in cultic groups. It therefore seems relevant to look at women's experiences in this specific setting. Eight interviews were conducted with female former cult members. The participants' testimonies were analyzed from a feminist perspective, based on Stark's (2007) theory of coercive control. The results presented show that women are subject to coercive control by the leader, which is reinforced by other members and sometimes by family members involved in the group. Participants are locked into roles that often stem from a patriarchal vision of women's place in society, forcing them to respond to the requirements of the leader and the community. Women also encounter difficulties when they leave the group, particularly in relation to seeking formal help. Considering the data collected, there is a real need for awareness, training, and research on understanding the specific cultic experiences of women.

Author

• Andréa Lagorse, University of Montréal