Weaponizing COVID-19: How the Pandemic Influenced the Behavior of Those Who Use Violence in Domestic and Family Relationships. (November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Warren, Shane; Morley, Christine; Clarke, Jo; Vitis, Laura; Ryan, Vanessa; Carrington, Kerry; Ball, Matthew
• Is Part Of: Violence against women. Volume 28:Number 14(2022)
• Page Start: 3415
• Page End: 3437
• Publication Date: 2022-11
• Subjects: domestic and family violence -- COVID-19 pandemic -- intimate terrorism -- perpetrator behavior; Abused women -- Periodicals; Women -- Crimes against -- Periodicals; Violent crimes -- Periodicals; Femmes victimes de violence -- Périodiques; Femmes, Crimes contre les -- Périodiques; Crimes violents -- Périodiques; 362.8292
• DOI: 10.1177/10778012211054871
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1077-8012

Abstract

COVID-19 has increased threats to women's safety in Australia and globally. This research is based on a 2020 nationwide survey about the impacts of COVID-19 on domestic and family violence (DFV) services and allied sectors throughout Australia. This study focuses on how perpetrator behaviors—coercion, control, and violence—changed and intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic. Two central themes identified from this qualitative analysis were the increase in complexity and severity of DFV during COVID-19. The analysis highlights how perpetrator behavior reflects the weaponizing of COVID-19 against women and children. The article concludes with a discussion about the theoretical, practice, and policy implications.