Contextualizing Digital Coercive Control and Surveillance Experiences Among Canadian Survivors

• In Event: Trajectories of Violence Exposure: Risk, Contact, and Consequences

Abstract

As technology continues to advance, so do the opportunities to harm women and girls. The current study explores survivor experiences of coercive control and seeks to understand how they understand the role of technology in their victimization experience. Through in-depth interviews with survivors of technology-facilitated intimate partner violence across Canada (n=12), we argue that technology poses additional challenges for survivors of intimate partner violence. Specifically, we argue that the ubiquitous nature of technology and digitized nature of everyday life can result in the feeling that survivors “cannot escape” the omnipresence of perpetrators. Survivors are often connected to perpetrators of technology-facilitated coercive control through complex virtual networks that are difficult to opt-out of completely. Moreover, the sophistication and constant evolution of technology poses particular challenges, especially for those with gaps in technical literacy. Lastly, we highlight that a complicated relationship with technology exists as many survivors remain online for communication, employment, access to resources, and general support, including positive uses of technology to respond to abuse. We use these findings to frame future priorities for technology-facilitated violence prevention and to better understand the scope of these challenges among Canadian women and girls.

Authors

• Mikaela Clarke, University of Toronto

• Madelaine Coelho, University of Toronto