Research on the link between women's financial (dis)dependency and partner violence, consisting of a scientific literature review and interviews with women who have experienced partner violence. Central to the study are the following questions: Are women who are financially dependent on their partners more likely to experience partner violence and less likely to break up a violent relationship? And, conversely, are women who are financially independent of their partner less likely to be victims of partner violence? And are they more likely to escape violence by breaking up the relationship?
Research on the link between women's financial (dis)dependency and partner violence, consisting of a scientific literature review and interviews with women who have experienced partner violence. Central to the study are the following questions: Are women who are financially dependent on their partners more likely to experience partner violence and less likely to break up a violent relationship? And, conversely, are women who are financially independent of their partner less likely to be victims of partner violence? And are they more likely to escape violence by breaking up the relationship?
A layered, paradoxical and reciprocal connection
The study shows a clear conclusion: there is a link between women's financial (dis)dependency and partner violence. However, this is a very complex link.
First, it is a stratified link, where there are other (non-economic) factors that influence the link and as a result, financial independence does not automatically and not for everyone protect against (repeat) partner violence.
Second, the link has a paradoxical character. Having (paid) work can be both a protective factor and a risk factor for partner violence. It provides protection because it gives women quicker access to alternative resources, emotional and physical security needed to leave the violent partner. However, employment can increase the likelihood of (repeat) partner violence if the male partner perceives the woman's economic empowerment as a threat.
Third, the link is reciprocal because partner violence also affects the woman's economic position. Not only in the long term. But also because partner violence may be accompanied by controlling tactics that together constitute economic violence. A woman in (paid) employment may therefore be financially independent on paper, but in practice denied access to these resources by her controlling partner. This argues for (policy) recognition of economic violence as a form of partner violence.
Women's labour force participation important factor
Although it is neither the only nor always the decisive factor in the occurrence or continuation of partner violence, the literature review shows sufficiently convincingly that women's labour participation is an important factor in increasing their social resilience. Labour participation can provide access to financial resources, as well as emotional support and physical safety which can then provide protection in stopping partner violence. Encouraging labour participation, especially of socio-economically vulnerable women, is of great importance.
However, the research also shows that there is no clear profile of 'a victim of partner violence', but that socio-demographic characteristics in interaction with relational factors, social inequalities and prevailing gender norms are decisive in the extent to which women are likely to become victims of (repeat) partner violence.
Policy in this area therefore only has the desired effect if it is embedded in coherent flanking government policy and elaborated in an integrated approach. This requires a gender-sensitive approach to partner violence that takes into account gender and gender inequality as a cause of violence.
