Better Place Australia practitioners’ perspectives of coercive control
Better Place Australia practitioners participated in an online survey about coercive control in practice. The survey focused on perceptions relating to gender differences in the use and experience of coercion.
Key Findings
- Female clients more commonly self-identify as victim/survivors of coercive control than male clients, with half of practitioners suggesting female clients self-identify ‘most of the time’.
- There was a perceived difference in the types of negative comments men and women make about their partner.
- Female clients were perceived to be more severely impacted by persistent negative comments made by their partner compared to male clients.
- Practitioners generally understood that one gender coerces other adults more frequently than the other; opinions were mixed as to whether the impact of coercion was the same regardless of if it was done by a man or woman.
- Opinions were mixed as to whether men and women coerce their children with the same frequency, but there was general agreement that the impact is the same regardless of if it is done by the male or female parent.
The findings suggest that coercive control is generally viewed through a gendered lens, and that female clients commonly identify as victim/survivors. The report highlights opportunities to deepen understanding of non-verbal forms of coercion, including systems abuse, and the use of victim narratives by perpetrators. These insights will support Better Place Australia’s continued efforts to align with national principles and strengthen trauma-informed practice across services.