Family Dynamics

Canada is a richly diverse country, with families representing a wide range of cultural values and traditions. When immigrant families settle in Canada, many strive to preserve their cultural practices. While this effort can be a source of pride and connection, in some cases, it may lead to an excessive or extreme form of control. Here are a few examples:

• Family Environment: A person who grows up in an environment of family violence may view marriage as a means of escape. However, due to the normalization of abusive behaviour and a lack of awareness, they may unknowingly find themselves trapped in another abusive relationship.
• Premarital Abuse: Parents may try to select the best partner for their child, but this can sometimes escalate into an extreme form of control, dismissing the child's input and preferences.
• Limiting Education For Females: In some cultures, there may be a belief that daughters should not pursue higher education, as it might be seen as overshadowing their future husbands. As a result, these families may stop their daughters from continuing their education after high school and prioritize household duties instead.

Takeaway

Understanding these factors is important for you as service providers to recognize the unique challenges faced by immigrant families dealing with coercive control.

• Goal: The primary goal of this section is to equip you as service providers with the ability to identify and understand coercive control, particularly in the context of immigrant families, enabling you to offer more targeted and effective support.
• Knowledge Gained: By the end of this section, you have gained an understanding of the following concepts:
  • Grooming involves creating a false sense of connection and using love-bombing techniques to establish trust and dependency⁠
  • Coercive behaviour includes isolating the victim, introducing controlling behaviours, and instilling fear⁠⁠
  • Recognize the dimensions or phases of coercive control, including grooming and love bombing tactics, and how these impact victims.
  • Understand the unique challenges faced by immigrant families, such as isolation, cultural unfamiliarity, and immigration-related vulnerabilities.
  • Distinguish between cultural norms and abusive behaviours, identifying when traditional roles are used to justify coercive control.
  • Be aware of the influence of abusive family dynamics and generational trauma in perpetuating coercive control.
• Impact on Services: Armed with this knowledge, as service providers you will be better equipped to:
  • Identify early signs of coercive control
  • Offer culturally sensitive support that acknowledges the complexities immigrant families face while prioritizing safety and well-being
  • Help clients navigate the fine line between cultural traditions and coercive control, empowering them to reclaim autonomy in their relationships and lives