While you may have heard the term “gaslighting” in a domestic violence or abusive context, you may not have seen the movie behind this increasingly-recognised term.
As part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Queensland’s Legal Aid Women’s Network is holding a one-off public screening of “Gaslight”. It’s this film which contributed to the term 'gaslighting' to describe a form of psychological abuse intended to cause a person to doubt their memory, perception and sanity through deliberate manipulation
“Gaslight” is a 1944 mystery-thriller starring Academy Award winner Ingrid Bergman, who plays a woman whose husband slowly manipulates her into questioning her own sense of reality.
Legal Aid Women’s Network (LAWN) spokesperson Fionna Fairbrother said Domestic Violence Awareness Month provides the perfect opportunity to raise awareness of this increasingly-recognised form of domestic violence.
“The act itself of gaslighting can be very subtle and is a relatively new term for an old set of behaviours,” Ms Fairbrother said.
“Common gaslighting tactics can include denying things that the victim can remember ever happened; convincing the victim of occurrences they have no memory of; and secretly moving things around the home.
“Also included in this behaviour is continued and persistent labelling of “crazy”, or “hysterical”., or “you’re over-reacting” when the victim may in fact be responding very calmly.
“All these tactics work together to cripple the victim’s confidence in her memory, and may even leave her questioning whether she is being abused at all.”
Ms Fairbrother said LAWN was hosting this public fundraiser event to highlight Domestic Violence Awareness Month and raise awareness of support services for women experiencing domestic and family violence, including Legal Aid Queensland.
“All proceeds from tickets will be donated to support women experiencing and living with domestic and family violence.
LAWN is a social network of women working at Legal Aid Queensland which also provides practical and financial donations to services that support disadvantaged women.
Gaslight screening tickets ($18.50 not including booking fees) can be purchased here and the screening is being held on Friday 24 May at 6.30pm at the Elizabeth Picture Theatre, Brisbane CBD
Ends.
Media contact: Miranda Greer or Amanda Catania on 3917 0407
Last updated 23 May 2019