Spotlight on economic abuse - Good Shepherd Youth & Family ...

Exploring the impacts of economic abuse
Referring to the Australian context, Brookes has observed:
there has been little research to understand how (economic abuse) is used,
how it is experienced by women, its role in controlling and manipulating
women, in creating dependence and isolation, in obstructing women’s escape;
and its long-term impact on women even after leaving the relationship.
(Brookes 2006, p. 2)
A scan of the literature suggests this continues to be the case and also that there is very
limited research which has specifically examined the impacts of economic abuse on women,
children, families and on the community. However, much is known about the impacts of the
domestic and family violence of which economic abuse is one element. In addition it is not
always possible or sensible to try to disentangle the impacts of one form of violence from the
impacts of other forms of violence. As illustrated earlier, economic abuse and other forms of
violence occur together and overlap as part of patterns of controlling behaviour; this is also
likely to be the case for the impacts of violence as indicated in the model presented in Figure
One. Domestic and family violence can have significant negative consequences for
economic wellbeing whether or not an abusive partner’s behaviour includes economic
abuse. At the same time, economic abuse leading to financial hardship potentially has a
whole range of negative consequences for health, housing, employment, interpersonal
relationships and parenting while these factors can also impact on children’s wellbeing.
Some of the direct and most apparent consequences for victims of economic abuse are the
financial or economic consequences. These are consequences for people while they are in
violent relationships, on leaving violent relationships, when attempting to gain financial
stability following exit from violent relationships and on their prospects for economic security
in the long term.
As Outlaw (2009, p. 264) puts it “(e)conomic abuse involves imposed economic dependence
of the abused by the abuser, if not outright stealing by the abusive spouse”. Economic
dependence on an abusive partner can be a critical obstacle to leaving the relationship
(Adams et al. 2008). In addition to victims being unable to access funds needed to leave,
domestic violence can cause social isolation which reduces options for leaving
(ALRC/NSWLRC 2010). However, while concerns about financial insecurity—including
concerns for impacts on children—are one reason women stay in abusive relationships,
financial issues have also been identified as providing the impetus for women to leave
abusive relationships (Braaf &Barrett Meyering 2010).
Economic abuse threatens short and long-term economic wellbeing. Women on low incomes
in a relationship with an abusive partner report a lack of resources needed for day-to-day
survival such as money, housing, childcare and transportation (Adams et al. 2008; Power
2006; Short et al. 2000). Abuse can impact on women’s capacity to work leading to
interrupted employment and to unemployment (Lindhorst et al. 2007; Lloyd 1997; Swanberg,
Macke and Logan 2007).
In Australia, domestic and family violence is often associated with poverty and
homelessness (Australian Institute of Health & Welfare [AIHW] 2007; Branigan 2004) and,
while financial hardship prevents some women leaving abusive relationships, it also
sometimes prompts women to return. Lack of money can limit women’s capacity to access
services needed to support recovery and prevent women taking up safety measures such as
installing locks and alarms, maintaining a phone and a car or relocating (Braaf & Barrett
Meyering 2011).
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