Strangulation and intimate partner violence

We can’t ignore the disturbing intersection between the increase in strangulation as a sexual practice, and strangulation perpetrated as part of intimate partner violence.

A practice commonly portrayed as sexy and ‘adventurous’ or ‘liberated’ in porn, social media and some other popular culture contexts is regularly used to intimidate, exert power and control over, and instil fear in intimate partner violence.

Porn has normalised and eroticised gendered aggression. It may be uncomfortable, but we need to talk about the normalisation of rough sex and strangulation, and grapple with how these gendered experiences mirror - and contribute to - the epidemic of gender-based violence.

Thanks to @wendy_tuohy for another great article.