What is Economic Abuse?

95% of domestic violence victims experience Economic Abuse and it prevents them from moving forward.

Ending Economic Abuse is a crucial component of the National Action Plan to end Gender based Violence. It can have a devastating effect on women, directly impacting their mental health, physical safety, independence, financial well-being, and ability to leave an abuser. Without access to money, many women are unable to plan or even imagine leaving an abusive relationship. Economic Abuse often continues after separation, with abusers leveraging financial support systems, such as spousal and child support orders, to maintain control. This leaves women with unstable housing and an inability to meet basic needs. Today’s rising inflation and cost of living, coupled with the shortage of affordable housing exacerbates these issues.

Women who experience Economic Abuse alongside high levels of coercive control are at increased risk of being killed.

Women who experience Economic Abuse are 5x more likely to experience physical violence than those who don’t. Websdale, 1999

While women from all backgrounds and income levels can experience economic abuse, the following are at increased risk:

Rural Communities

The isolation prevalent in rural communities contributes to the hindrance of women’s active participation in the workforce. Furthermore, the absence of financial autonomy, accumulation of unfavorable credit, and a history of abuse impede women’s capacity to engage in gainful employment, preventing them from attaining autonomy and self-sufficiency both within relationships and beyond.

Black, Indigenous & BIPOC

Systemic racism and racialized poverty are deeply entrenched structural determinants that significantly impact the experience of family violence. Our insights align with a 2022 report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, shedding light on the persistent and widespread discrimination faced by the 620,000 Black women and girls in Canada.

Immigrants & Refugees

Newcomer women are incredibly vulnerable because, without legal status in Canada, many financial supports are not available to them. This is the hardest situation to work with because there are systemic barriers that cannot be overcome easily and in a timely fashion.

❝ Women in intimate partner relationships may experience Economic Abuse in a variety of forms. It may involve being denied access to bank accounts, information and decision-making rights regarding family finances or having severely curtailed choices regarding purchases. It may involve being financially dependent or not having enough money to buy food, nappies, baby formula, and sanitary products or to pay essential bills. Women can be forced to account for every penny with receipts or to pay off debts accrued by their partners. Following relationship breakdowns, Economic Abuse is commonly experienced through the withholding or manipulation of child support entitlements ❞

- Elizabeth Brannigan, 2007

The Impact of Economic Abuse

A Lifetime of Struggle for Women

The consequences of Economic Abuse don’t end when the relationship does. It prevents recovery and becoming independent. Interferance with education and employment can make it difficult to find or keep a job. After separation, an abuser may use family law and child support to control and damage a victim’s financial security and independence. Victims may also be left responsible for debts built up by their ex- partner, making it hard to get home, get a loan for a car and meet day-to-day costs.

Common Abuse Tactics

1. Economic abuse (EA):

Behaviors that control a victim’s ability to acquire, use, and maintain resources, thus threatening his or her economic security and potential for self-sufficiency. (Adams et al., 2008)

2. Economic Control (EC):

EC occurs when the perpetrator prevents the victim from having access to or knowledge of the finances and from having any financial decision-making power.

Controlling and limiting the victim’s access to financial resources
Denying the victim access to necessities, such as food, clothing, and/or medications
Tracking the victim’s use of money
Withholding or hiding jointly earned money
Preventing the victim from having access to a bank account
Lying about shared properties and assets

3. Employment Sabotage (ES):

ES encompasses behaviors that prevent + the victim from obtaining or maintaining employment.

4. Economic Exploitation (EE):

EE occurs when the perpetrator intentionally engages in behaviors aimed to destroy the victim’s financial resources or credit.

Economic Abuse VS Financial Abuse

Although the terms Economic Abuse (EA) and Financial Abuse (FA) are often used interchangeably due to similar behaviours, it is helpful to think of FA as a subcategory of EA (Dr Nicola Sharp-Jeffs SEA resources).