The fight for gender equality is a fight that continues every day. Despite legislative and societal progress, there are still many areas where inequalities persist. One of these inequalities concerns economic violence within the couple, a subject that deserves our attention.
Economic violence can take many forms within a marital relationship. Some women are prohibited from working, thereby losing their financial independence. Others experience control or confiscation of household resources by their partner, which prevents them from leaving the abuser. Some do not even have a bank account in their name, making their financial independence even more difficult.
This economic violence has disastrous consequences on the lives of women victims. They often find themselves in precarious circumstances, not having the means to provide for themselves and their children. They may also face difficult financial situations after separation, with non-payment of bail or incessant legal proceedings.
It is important to emphasize that economic violence is not limited only to the theft of wages or the confiscation of resources. An unfavorable financial organization within the couple can also be considered a form of economic violence. For example, when one spouse requires that expenses be shared equally even though they earn much more money, this contributes to the impoverishment of the other spouse and blocks their personal enrichment.
Unfortunately, economic violence is often less noticed and less taken into account than other forms of domestic violence. However, they can be an indicator of dangerousness and be concomitant with physical violence. It is therefore essential to detect and combat them.
Different solutions can be considered to combat economic violence within the couple. First of all, it is essential to better define what this violence is in order to raise awareness and inform as many people as possible. Banking institutions could also play a key role in identifying and reporting cases of economic violence. Furthermore, increasing women’s wages could be a key to the problem, thus reducing the income gap between spouses and reducing situations of financial dependence.
Finally, it is essential to provide more resources to associations that help women victims of economic violence. These structures are often faced with a lack of resources and struggle to meet the growing demand for support and assistance.
In conclusion, economic violence within the couple is still an all-too-present reality, despite progress in gender equality.. It is important to continue to raise awareness, inform and take concrete measures to fight this scourge. Only collective mobilization can guarantee all women the right to a life free from violence, including economic violence.