International Journal of Coercion, Abuse, and Manipulation Volume 9 2026 90
Understanding Women’s Experiences in Cultic Groups in Québec
Through the Lens of Coercive Control: A Qualitative Study
Andréa Lagorse1
Abstract: This article presents the main conclusions of a master’s dissertation on the specific experiences of women in a
cultic context. Only a few studies have been conducted on this subject. Nevertheless, the cultic context seems to provide an
opportunity for leaders and their groups to use psychological and sexual violence against women. Violence, gender inequalities,
power relations, and stigmatization that women have suffered for decades in society are found in cultic contexts. These groups
often maintain a patriarchal system that views women as inferior to men. Eight in-depth, semi-structured interviews were
conducted with female former cult members using a qualitative methodology. The participants’ testimonies were analyzed
from a feminist perspective, based on Stark’s (2007) theory of coercive control. The results show that women are subject
to coercive control by the leader, which is reinforced by other group members and sometimes family members involved in
the group. Participants are locked into roles that often stem from a patriarchal vision of women’s place in society, forcing
them to respond to the requirements of the leader and the group. Women also encounter difficulties when they leave the
group, particularly in relation to seeking formal help. Considering the data collected, awareness, training, and research on
understanding the specific cultic experiences of women to help them while respecting what they have experienced are needed.
Keywords: cultic groups, violence against women, coercive control, feminist theory
1 Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Andréa Lagorse, Email: andrea.lagorse@umontreal.ca
Context
Violence against women is a major issue in
contemporary societies. Despite progress in the
recognition of women’s rights, gender-based violence
persists in both public and private spheres and is even
regressing in certain regions. According to the United
Nations General Assembly ,violence against women
encompasses “any act of gender-based violence that
results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or
mental harm or suffering to women, including threats
of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty,
whether occurring in public or in private life.” (1993,
article 1). Such violence not only causes immediate
harm but can also produce long-term repercussions,
especially when victims are not believed, supported,
or adequately protected. In Canada, victims have no
formal or official role within the justice system, which
often minimizes their voices and experiences. As a
result, they may be blamed, discredited, or excluded
from decision-making processes related to the violence
they endured (Dick, 2020 Kelly &Radford, 1990
Randall, 2010). Moreover, intimate partner violence
and coercive control are still not fully recognized under
Canadian criminal law, leaving significant gaps in legal
protection.
Violence against women must be understood from a
feminist perspective as both individual acts and deeply
embedded in systems of patriarchal power (Kelly,
1987 Kelly &Radford, 1990 Stark, 2007 Walby,
1989). These feminist scholars have long argued that
women’s experiences of victimization must be analyzed
in light of the structural inequalities that shape their
social, political, and intimate lives. This analysis must
include the barriers women face when seeking help,
the institutional disbelief and secondary victimization
they often endure, and the ways in which control over
their bodies, voices, and choices is normalized through
cultural and social practices.
Cultic groups represent a particularly acute
manifestation of these gendered dynamics. Cults are
defined as
a group or movement exhibiting a great or
excessive devotion or dedication to some
person, idea, or thing and employing unethically
manipulative techniques of persuasion and
control designed to advance the goals of the
group’s leaders, to the actual or possible
detriment of members, their families, or the
community. (West &Langone, 1986, p. 87)
doi: 10.54208/1000/0009/007
Understanding Women’s Experiences in Cultic Groups in Québec
Through the Lens of Coercive Control: A Qualitative Study
Andréa Lagorse1
Abstract: This article presents the main conclusions of a master’s dissertation on the specific experiences of women in a
cultic context. Only a few studies have been conducted on this subject. Nevertheless, the cultic context seems to provide an
opportunity for leaders and their groups to use psychological and sexual violence against women. Violence, gender inequalities,
power relations, and stigmatization that women have suffered for decades in society are found in cultic contexts. These groups
often maintain a patriarchal system that views women as inferior to men. Eight in-depth, semi-structured interviews were
conducted with female former cult members using a qualitative methodology. The participants’ testimonies were analyzed
from a feminist perspective, based on Stark’s (2007) theory of coercive control. The results show that women are subject
to coercive control by the leader, which is reinforced by other group members and sometimes family members involved in
the group. Participants are locked into roles that often stem from a patriarchal vision of women’s place in society, forcing
them to respond to the requirements of the leader and the group. Women also encounter difficulties when they leave the
group, particularly in relation to seeking formal help. Considering the data collected, awareness, training, and research on
understanding the specific cultic experiences of women to help them while respecting what they have experienced are needed.
Keywords: cultic groups, violence against women, coercive control, feminist theory
1 Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Andréa Lagorse, Email: andrea.lagorse@umontreal.ca
Context
Violence against women is a major issue in
contemporary societies. Despite progress in the
recognition of women’s rights, gender-based violence
persists in both public and private spheres and is even
regressing in certain regions. According to the United
Nations General Assembly ,violence against women
encompasses “any act of gender-based violence that
results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or
mental harm or suffering to women, including threats
of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty,
whether occurring in public or in private life.” (1993,
article 1). Such violence not only causes immediate
harm but can also produce long-term repercussions,
especially when victims are not believed, supported,
or adequately protected. In Canada, victims have no
formal or official role within the justice system, which
often minimizes their voices and experiences. As a
result, they may be blamed, discredited, or excluded
from decision-making processes related to the violence
they endured (Dick, 2020 Kelly &Radford, 1990
Randall, 2010). Moreover, intimate partner violence
and coercive control are still not fully recognized under
Canadian criminal law, leaving significant gaps in legal
protection.
Violence against women must be understood from a
feminist perspective as both individual acts and deeply
embedded in systems of patriarchal power (Kelly,
1987 Kelly &Radford, 1990 Stark, 2007 Walby,
1989). These feminist scholars have long argued that
women’s experiences of victimization must be analyzed
in light of the structural inequalities that shape their
social, political, and intimate lives. This analysis must
include the barriers women face when seeking help,
the institutional disbelief and secondary victimization
they often endure, and the ways in which control over
their bodies, voices, and choices is normalized through
cultural and social practices.
Cultic groups represent a particularly acute
manifestation of these gendered dynamics. Cults are
defined as
a group or movement exhibiting a great or
excessive devotion or dedication to some
person, idea, or thing and employing unethically
manipulative techniques of persuasion and
control designed to advance the goals of the
group’s leaders, to the actual or possible
detriment of members, their families, or the
community. (West &Langone, 1986, p. 87)
doi: 10.54208/1000/0009/007
