| This thesis is a study of all Quebec custody cases dealing with parental alienation in 2016. It explores the definitions, findings, and implications of parental alienation in legal disputes, in light of the models of parental alienation and parental alienation syndrome described in the academic literature. This research confirms feminists' skepticism towards the use of parental alienation in custody litigation. It concludes that alienation has varying and inconsistent definitions in law, that there is a considerable disconnect between the state of the research in science and judges' knowledge on alienation, and that the concept of parental alienation in law is ambiguous and over-inclusive, seemingly to the detriment of mothers. There is a dire need for clearer and stricter guidelines on the use of parental alienation in Quebec jurisprudence to ensure its accuracy, coherence, and fairness. |
