It’s just men taking an interest: Blurring understanding and recognition of coercive control

This article, grounded in feminist empirical research, explores women’s perceptions of domestic violence and their routes to help-seeking, irrespective of personal experiences with domestic violence and abuse. It highlights how societal norms reinforce women’s subjugation through seemingly harmless ideas like "men just taking an interest" or a "woman’s desire to please." Drawing on Kirkwood’s (1993) concept of the "distortion of a woman’s subjective reality," the study reveals how women often unknowingly adapt their lives enabling coercive control. Gendered norms perpetuate this control by subtly manipulating women's daily routines, obscuring abusive behaviour in intimate heterosexual relationships. The article argues that this manipulation starts early, making coercive control harder to recognise and resist. Ultimately, the study concludes that despite feminist efforts, societal norms continue to reinforce traditional gender roles, limiting women’s autonomy and sustaining patriarchal dominance. The article argues that unless there is a shift in these norms women's independence in such relationships will remain constraint.