Economic violence: the lesser-known side of gender violence
Gender violence is so deeply rooted in our society that it can be considered structural in many contexts: among its more subtle and lesser-known forms we undoubtedly find economic violence.
According to a report recently published by WeWorld and carried out with Ipsos, one in two women, therefore 49% of those interviewed, say they have suffered economic violence at least once in their life, a percentage that reaches 67% among divorced or separated women.
Despite these alarming results, the phenomenon is considered “very serious” by only 59% of Italians
An indicative figure, which shows us how it is still necessary to inform on issues relating to the gender issue.
How economic violence shows itself
Doctrine and jurisprudence struggle to elaborate the concept of economic violence which is included in the broader notion of domestic violence.
The recognition of economic violence as an autonomous form of oppression is part of the 2011 Istanbul Convention on preventing and fighting violence against women and domestic violence.
Despite this, economic violence is still difficult to identify, because it is culturally rooted and accepted in numerous situations, sometimes by the very same women who accept controls on money management, often because they are not independent income earners.
It occurs when, in a family or as a couple, a woman is denied the possibility of working, of managing her own money independently, of having access to a personal current account and, in general, of being financially independent: the result is the control of the woman by an abusive partner.
When you receive counted money, and you don’t have the right to express opinions on the family’s purchases and you have to justify every expense, you find yourself in a condition of economic (and psychological) violence which is still too often experienced as a “normal” situation.
Often economic violence, like all forms of gender violence, begins with seemingly negligible gestures which, in a short time, create an ever-increasing dependence.
It therefore seems clear that, first of all, it is necessary to work on female awareness: one cannot oppose oppression that one cannot identify.
Three types of economic violence
Numerous research identifies three ways in which economic violence occurs.
- Economic control. The perpetrator limits or prevents the use of the victim’s financial resources and their decision-making power, for example by denying her access to a bank account, forcing her to ask for authorization for spending, constantly monitoring her purchases.
- Economic exploitation. Those who commit violence exploit the victim’s economic resources to her advantage by stealing money and goods or forcing her to work more than she should.
- Economic sabotage. The perpetrator of the violence prevents the victim from seeking, obtaining or maintaining a job or a course of study.
It can be done by squandering the victim’s assets needed to work or study, refusing to take care of children to prevent the victim from pursuing her goals, adopting abusive behavior towards the important work or study appointments of the victim.
The importance of work and female independence
In our country, 44% of women of working age are inactive, do not have or are not looking for a job.
A fact to reflect on since having a job is essential to being autonomous and to avoid falling into situations of domestic violence.
It is no coincidence that the latest report from the network of anti-violence centers D.i.Re shows that, among the women who report abuse, one in three has zero income: economic dependence can become an insurmountable obstacle, which prevents or makes it harder to walk away from a toxic story.
Reports of economic violence are limited (33% according to D.i.Re data), both because only 27% of abused women report violence of any kind, and because there is a lack of concrete awareness of the seriousness of the problem.
A question of awareness and (also) self-esteem
It is clear that, to escape economic violence or avoid falling into it, women must understand that if they are forced to ask for money even for minimal expenses, if they do not have money available that they can use independently and, essentially, they are totally deprived of financial power, it is not a “normal situation” at all.
The watchwords are therefore awareness and self-esteem: to realize that economic violence is not acceptable and find the strength to escape from subjection. Even when you work at home you have the RIGHT to co-manage the family’s money.
Financial education, i.e. learning the basic skills necessary to manage money, and understanding the importance of economic independence therefore represent a fundamental first step towards economic, personal and social emancipation.
For this reason, the Museum of Saving has been organizing activities dedicated to women for many years, with the aim of promoting female independence.
Gender violence, in all its forms, finds much less fertile ground if the number of aware and economically independent women increases.