Financial Freedom: Women, Money, and Domestic Abuse

Conner argues that economic instability is one of the central factors that tie victims of intimate partner abuse to their abusers. The financial instability of the abused gives an abuser power over his victim. Conner explores the history of women, money and oppression and finds that wage disparity and gender bias in the labour force limited womens economic independence. Lack of financial independence makes it difficult for women to leave abusive situations. She focuses in particular on the United States as a case study. Moreover, the failure to legally recognize economic abuse, as opposed to physical or sexual abuse, as requiring a remedial response further disadvantages women. In order to address the vulnerability of abused women, the state must better enforce civil protection orders, introduce wage and labour parity, and strengthen social benefit programs.