Season 5 Episode 13: Coercive Control & Children Conference Podcast: The Role of Language in Global Responses to Domestic Abuse

Systems Change
Written By

About This Episode

What if understanding power dynamics could transform the way we approach domestic abuse and trauma? Join us for this special live recording of the Partner with a Survivor podcast, where we invite you to explore the delicate intricacies of relationships alongside hosts David Mandel and Ruth Reymundo Mandel from the Safe & Together Institute.

Ruth, known for her “cranky survivor” persona, opens up about how this unique character serves as both a personal expression and a strategic response to the challenges faced by victim-survivors when dealing with institutional behaviors and professional biases. Together, we navigate the critical importance of embracing survivor feedback—anger and all—while we unravel the deeply ingrained social and gender biases within professional practices.

Dive into the heart of coercive control and break down the complex layers of what is called “mutualized violence,” which we call “acts of resistance” to a perpetrator’s coercion and harm. Our conversation challenges the status quo by examining who truly holds power and control in relationships, especially in contexts riddled with bias against marginalized women. We don’t shy away from the difficult but necessary task of confronting systemic issues and weaponized responses to survivor anger, urging professionals to recognize anger as a healthy and natural response to boundary violations. In this episode, we champion the importance of safe environments for survivors to express their emotions and set boundaries, particularly in the face of systemic challenges.

As we wrap up, we shift our focus to the evolving language within the Safe & Together framework. By moving away from North American–centric jargon, we aim to align with global conversations and maintain core principles through adaptable language. The episode concludes with a discussion on fostering healthy professional relationships, emphasizing collaboration across genders to ensure child and community safety.

Reflect with us on how these insights can be applied in your own life, and help us continue our mission by sharing your feedback and suggestions for future topics.

Additional Resources

Previous

Season 6 Episode 1: “Just Leave”: Examining Displacement-Based Responses to Domestic Violence
Next

Season 5 Episode 12: Challenging the Gospel of Sacrifice: Faith, Domestic Abuse & Institutional Transformation