What is Economic Abuse?

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2 What is Economic Abuse? behaviours that control a woman s ability to acquire, use and maintain economic resources, thus threatening her economic security and potential for self-sufficiency (Adams et al. 2008). RMIT University June 2015 School of Economics, finance and marketing 2

3 Eg. make a woman ask for money restrict income; demand to know how much money is spent. Eg Destroy a woman s opportunities for work or study Eg Take money from a woman s purse, account without permission or knowledge; leave debts in her name

4 Economic abuse is only formally recognised in Australia in Northern Territory; South Australia; Victoria and Tasmania

5 Economic abuse tactics include hindering economic self-sufficiency and damaging economic self-efficacy.

6 Economic abuse is highly correlated with physical, psychological and sexual abuse Highest correlation is between psychological and economic control. (Mathisen Stylianou et al. 2013)

7 Existing measures USA (Fragile Families and Wellbeing Study, 2012) he withheld money, made you ask for money or took your money he tried to prevent you from going to work and / or school Australia (Womens Health Australia, 2012) my partner refused to let me work outside the home or took my wallet and left me stranded Australia (International Violence Against Women Survey ) damages / destroys property / possessions

8 Existing measures Australia (ABS Personal Safety Survey 2012) Stopped or tried to stop you knowing about or having access to household money Stopped or tried to stop you from working or earning money Stopped or tried to stop you from studying Deprived you of basic needs such as food, shelter, sleep or assistive aids Damaged, destroyed or stole any of your property

9 Impact on financial self-efficacy Economic abuse erodes a woman s financial self-efficacy and therefore hinders propensity to leave the situation; makes recovery more difficult.

10 FSE total score Financial Self-efficacy and Control Women who felt they had not enough control over the household finances have lower levels of FSE, than those who were undecided, and those who felt they had enough control (all means significantly different from each other) Not enough Undecided control ANOVA, F(2, 1851) = , p <.001, η 2 = 0.19, large effect size 17.4 Enough control

11 Insidious nature of economic control I used to be very aware of my financial situation and involved in managing household finances. I was very good at it.. But over the years, my partner has become the person in charge of our bank accounts and investments, mortgage, and even paying regular bills. I don't even know the login details for our bank account online anymore, and he discourages me from getting involved. I find this very distressing but don't feel I can do anything about it. I don't think he even realises the effect this has - he just likes to keep track of our finances himself and it's more efficient than both of us being so involved in the daily management of it. But I do feel that I am being deskilled financially, and I don't like feeling that I'm not trusted to do the job myself.

12 Secret bank accounts? A potential indicator of economic abuse Before I separated from my husband (who was financially controlling of me), I did used to have a secret bank account that I would put any extra money in that I happened to come by. When I got a pay rise at work, I would use the extra money to deposit into this secret account. I would go to great lengths to cover up my spending and saving from my husband as he would become angry with me for what he perceived as me spending too much money. Photo used on a CC License, by Bradley Gordon, taken from Flickr

13 Example: employment sabotage I was married for 28 years. I gained a Bachelor of Social Science - had work but I left my job under duress. This led to a mental health crisis. He was passive/aggressive I had to leave to save myself. It is 3 years now since I divorced. I cannot afford mainstream rent. Not safe or acceptable standard. My husband still has his teacher job at $90,000 per year. I have said that I wished I did not leave at times because it has been so difficult.

14 Example: economic control I was financially independent prior to marriage and electing to stay at home to raise children has made me extremely financially dependent and vulnerable. I now get an allowance barely enough for groceries"

15 Example: economic exploitation Money isn t much to me it really isn t. I used to have a husband who knocked me around terribly, took all my money I worked full time and he would come down on pay day and I knew I had to give my pay to him

16 Can you help identify economic abuse? Think back to clients, conversations you have had in your work and note the following: Examples of words, phrases that signal economic abuse Estimate the prevalence in your work Identify the strengths you have noted in women you have talked with How best can financial self-efficacy be rebuilt?