Gender and sovereignty: a critical analysis of the criminalization of coercive control in Kenya
Date
2024
Authors
Kapere, S. D.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Strathmore University
Abstract
Intimate partner violence has been recognized as the most predominant form of violence committed by men against women. In efforts to address violence against women, one of the approaches in the conceptualization of domestic violence is the coercive control model which recognizes physical violence and non-physical forms of abuse as components of coercive control. The aim of this model is to address the legislative gap with regard to non-physical forms of violence while reconciling the disjuncture in the dynamics of control and gender which enables the continued subordination of women in intimate partner relationships. As such, proponents of this model call for the criminalization of coercive control. Through qualitative and quantitative research, drawing comparatives from the jurisdictions which have adopted the offence, this research establishes that an incorporation of the offence of coercive control within Section 3 of the Protection Against Domestic Violence Act would only serve to exacerbate the existing normative gender arrangements, re-asserting women to be blamed for their experiences of controlling and coercive behaviour while strengthening the power of the patriarchal state to respond to such violence. This study subsequently invites further research on the practicality of non-carceral proposed policies and programs which could effectively address intimate partner violence.
Description
Full - text undergraduate research project
Keywords
Citation
Kapere, S. D. (2024). Gender and sovereignty: A critical analysis of the criminalization of coercive control in Kenya [Strathmore University]. http://hdl.handle.net/11071/15930