What is economic violence and how to deal with it

While much has been written about emotional and physical abuse in relationships, the economic (or, as it is also called, financial) often remains in the shadows. Moreover, this form of abuse makes the victim very vulnerable and makes life very difficult.

What is economic violence

This is a type of domestic violence in which one person in one form or another controlsFinancial abuse / U. S. Department of Health & Human Services the finances of a partner, adult child, parent, or other loved one against their will. The purpose of this influence is to appropriate other people's money, to demonstrate power and make the victim more dependent.

How often economic abuse occurs, no one knows for sure. First, it is often inseparable from

other forms of violence. And secondly, it can remain invisible to the victim for a long time.

However, few statistics that reflect the scale of the problem can still be found. American Domestic Violence Victim Protection Centers sayFinancial Abuse / The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV)that financial pressure and control are found in 98% of abusive relationships.

InterviewAND. D. Gorshkova, I. AND. Shurygin. Violence against wives in Russian families / Materials of an all-Russian study presented at the conference on May 15-16, 2003. at Moscow State University M. IN. Lomonosov and Gorbachev-Fondconducted by MSU staff in seven regions of Russia also showed interesting results. About 40% of men expressed the opinion that a husband who supports his wife receives a certain power over her. For example, he has the right to prohibit his wife from working. And every fourth woman (26%) has faced at least one form of economic pressure from her husband in her life. 13% of women were not only severely constrained financially, but also humiliated.

True, it is important to make a reservation that the study was carried out already in 2003 and concerned only married couples. That is, now these data may not be entirely correct. Also, the results do not in any way reflect, for example, financial abuse in the relationship between parents and adult children.

How economic violence manifests itself

In general, these are any forms of control and pressure associated with money. And they are quite varied.

The victim is not allowed to manage his own funds and property

For example, money and other valuables are taken under various pretexts. Access to bank accounts can also be limited in some way: for example, a person is robbed of his cards, phone and other gadgets. Abuser spends the victim's finances at his own discretion, leaving little or nothing. And of course, he does not explain his own decisions and does not report on where the money went.

The victim is deprived of the opportunity to fully earn

There are both soft options and very radical bans. The abuser can persuade him to quit his job or find another, calmer and less monetary one - in order, say, to devote more time to his family. The victim is convinced that the job is too strong stress and it's better to stay at home. Unbearable conditions are created for the victim: they arrange scandals in the morning, bring them to a nervous breakdown, deliberately interfere with doing business and force them to be late. They may simply be banned from going to work - with the help of threats, blackmail, manipulation and beatings.

The victim's spending is carefully monitored

Abuser makes you report in detail where the money went. If he discovers some wrong, from his point of view, expenses, then he scolds and criticizes.

A victim in a vulnerable position is not given money

Illness, disability, dismissal, parental leave - all this greatly hinders a person from earning or even completely deprives him of such an opportunity. People in a similar situation usually count on the financial assistance of a spouse. This obligation is even spelled outRF IC, article 89 "Responsibilities of spouses for mutual maintenance" in the legislation.

But in a relationship where there is economic violence, one side can use the weakness of the other for their own benefit. For example, blackmail the victim, make her beg and humiliate herself, and transfer small amounts and only on very harsh conditions.

The victim is tricked or pressured into money

For example, they are forced to take loans and other debt obligations.

The victim is convinced of her inability to manage her finances

They criticize for spending, insult, constantly repeat that the victim does not know how to handle money. Thanks to this systematic emotional abuse a person sometimes gives money to the tyrant as if voluntarily, because he is either afraid of new insults, or begins to sincerely believe that he can do nothing.

What cannot be considered an economic abuse

Monetary relations between loved ones are a complex and slippery topic. There are no universal rules and regulations that would describe who owes whom and how much and how to properly manage family finances.

Therefore, the line between norm and violence can be very thin.

For example, the spouses agreed to buy a new refrigerator from the next salary. But the husband instead ordered a game console without warning, and now there is not enough money for the necessary thing. The wife, having learned about what had happened, was indignant and told her husband that he did not know how to handle money.

Is there financial violence here? And from whose side? It seems that the husband spent your money: this is his right, he is not obliged to report expenses. But the person broke the agreement and, therefore, let the partner down. In general, everything is complicated. This is one of the reasons why financial violence is in a gray zone and invisible even to those directly affected.

Each case needs to be considered individually, but there are several situations that are definitely not abusive.

One adult and capable person refuses to support another

According to the Family Code of the Russian Federation, spouses must provide for each other in case of illness, loss of work, pregnancy, parental leave, as well as if one of them is taking care of a child with disability.

In addition, able-bodied adult children mustRF IC, article 89 "Responsibilities of spouses for mutual maintenance" support their disabled people in need of help parents.

There are several more types of alimony obligations. For example, between grandmothers and grandchildren and between capable and incompetent brothers and sisters.

But if no one is sick, has not lost legal capacity or work, has not gone on maternity leave, then a person is not obliged to support his relative or partner. And this refusal will not be violence.

People agreed in advance

For example, the spouses decided that one of them works, and the other takes on himself home and children. It turns out that the one who is busy with the economy takes the money earned by the partner and spends it, among other things, on himself. If the spouses have voluntarily assigned responsibilities in this way, the situation cannot be considered an abuse.

Or they both earn money, but the budget is managed by one person by mutual agreement, this is also not violence. At least until concealment, blackmail, threats and other manipulations begin.

What Economic Violence Leads to

First, it doesHoward M., Skipp A. Unequal, Trapped & Controlled: Women’s Experience of Financial Abuse and Potential Implications for Universal Credit / Women’s Aid. 2014 victims are more vulnerable to other types of abuse - psychological and physical. Especially womenwho suffer from economic violence more than men. For example, in a relatively prosperous UK, they faceMoney Matters / Research into the extent and nature of financial abuse within intimate relationships in the UK with financial abuse three times more often.

When a person depends on a manipulator for money, the latter has more and more leverage to subordinate the victim even more to himself and move on to outright tyranny.

Secondly, economic abuse causes enormous harm to human health.

Finally, the victim is obviously having or exacerbated financial problems. In severe cases, she loses money, property and the ability to earn money, and due to constant psychological pressure, a person has less and less strength to do something about it.

Why People Become Economic Abusers

Psychologist Anastasia Markova says that the roots should be looked for in childhood. If a person was brought up in an atmosphere of violence and in his family he practiced economic control, then, having become an adult, the abuser simply does not know what could be otherwise.

But there are other reasons as well.

What to do if you are a victim of economic violence

It is necessary first of all think about yourself.

1. Break off relationships when there is a threat to health

The main thing that is worth understanding is whether there is a danger to your life and health at the moment? If a partner or relative has already turned to physical violence and threats of violence, or is about to do so, you need to get out of such a relationship as soon as possible. No matter how difficult this decision may seem.

But this is a necessary step, which, perhaps, will save your life and subsequently make it much more fulfilling and happy.

2. Try to negotiate if you are not ready to end the relationship right away.

It is important to understand that when in relationship there is physical and expressed emotional violence, there can be no dialogue. Attempts to negotiate with the abuser are doomed to failure in most cases. But if you still want to give the relationship a shot, try the following.

3. Take care of the economic side of the issue

If you don't have your own money, the most important thing is to provide yourself financial independence. Do what you can do at the moment:

• Get a job, at least part-time.
• Look for additional sources of income. For example, freelancing, tutoring, handicraft sales, repair or cleaning services, and so on. Many of these things can be done without informing your partner.
• Open a new bank account and save money on the sly.

When you have a regular income and savings, it will be easier for you to fight back and break off relations with the abuser in every sense. At least you don’t have to worry that you will not be able to pay for housing and food.

4. Ask for help

To relatives or friends, to crisis centers for victims of domestic violence, to a psychotherapist or to psychological support groups.

Dealing with abuse alone can be very difficult, and the help of others, including those who passed by myself through the like, will give you emotional resources and courage.