The Intersection of Credibility and Stereotypes in the Family Violence Context
Family violence is defined broadly in the Divorce Act, including any conduct “that is violent or threatening or that constitutes a pattern of coercive and controlling behaviour.”[i] This includes psychological abuse and financial abuse.[ii]Family violence has been recognized by the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) as being “notoriously difficult to prove.”
The Coercive Control Concept and Application to Court Procedures
Although courts have gradually been adapting when it comes to understanding of gendered violence, the arguments put forth by Janet E. Mosher in the article, Grounding Access to Justice Theory and Practice in the Experiences of Women Abused by Their Intimate Partners, still gives insightful commentary in the way that courts have operated as proxies for that violence. It would be interesting to consider how this concept has applied to other categories of criminal cases.
The Coercive Control Concept and Application to Court Procedures
Although courts have gradually been adapting when it comes to understanding of gendered violence, the arguments put forth by Janet E. Mosher in the article, Grounding Access to Justice Theory and Practice in the Experiences of Women Abused by Their Intimate Partners, still gives insightful commentary in the way that courts have operated as proxies for that violence.
