Economic abuse is notoriously hard to recognize and even harder to recover from. This is partially because there is little public awareness of what economic abuse really is. “If you were well-educated about economic abuse you could identify it like you would other forms of abuse if your sister or friend was suffering from it,” says Meseret Haileyesus, CEO of the Canadian Center for Women’s Empowerment.
Because men are typically seen as the “head of the house” due to gender norms it is hard for women to identify when they–or someone they know–is experiencing economic abuse.
Here are some red flags that can indicate economic abuse:
WATCH OUT FOR:
Employment changes:
If your friend or family member has suddenly left a job they used to enjoy or is now taking on all the childcare responsibility this may be a sign that their partner is pressuring them into staying isolated at home, working for free, or becoming more financially dependent on them. Limiting a woman’s ability to work reduces her income and makes it easier for the abuser to give or withhold money in a manipulative way. This is why some abusers will interfere with a woman’s employment by forcing her to quit or controlling her access to technology required to work from home.
Anxiety about money:
When someone is experiencing anxiety about having enough money to pay for necessities or seems concerned about the family income, it could be a sign of economic abuse. They may be worried because of a recent employment change, stressed about feeding their family on a newly restricted budget, or struggling to pay bills.
Other types of abuse:
Feminist lawyer Pamela Cross explains that it is extremely common for multiple types of abuse to be present in these situations. “Across the board, virtually every woman I’ve worked with who has been in, or is in, an abusive relationship is being subjected to emotional or psychological abuse,” says Cross. “There is often–but not in the majority of cases–physical abuse as well.” She explains that abusers isolating women from their family, friends, and supports is referred to as “social abuse” and is extremely common. Any of these types of abuse are a sign that your friend or family member needs help.
Social isolation:
By isolating their partners, abusers slowly take away their social safety net so they cannot easily communicate with family and friends. Not only does this make it harder for them to seek help but it also means you may miss warning signs that would come up in conversation. If you haven’t heard from someone in a while try to check in, it could be a sign they are experiencing abuse.
Access to necessities:
When someone doesn’t have access to necessities like food, clothes, transportation, or other resources it could be a sign that their abuser is withholding those essentials. Detective Sergeant Bill Gofton leads the OPP’s threat assessment unit and handles cases of intimate partner violence and says it’s always a red flag if the individual does not own a phone or doesn’t have access to one. He says it is highly unusual in this day and age to not have access to a cellphone and could indicate the abuser is intentionally isolating their partner.
Financial knowledge:
It is common for abusers to hide important banking information so their partner cannot access accounts and funds. If you find yourself unsure of where you stand financially and unable to access that information it could be a sign of abuse. Chitra Raghavan is a professor of psychology who researches intimate partner abuse and says it can be hard to tell what is simply gender norms and what is economic abuse. Because it is hard to know what this abuse looks like, she says a big red flag is when you can no longer negotiate with your partner for financial control and/or information. Learning about financial literacy can help protect yourself and others from being economically abused.
HOW TO HELP:
Stay in contact:
Checking on your family member or friend over text, email, or phone gives them a chance to ask for help, and for you to carefully ask if they are OK. COVID-19 restrictions make it even harder to get distance from abusers so finding a safe time to talk is very important. Code words can help them communicate whether it’s a safe time to talk in case their online activity is monitored by their abuser. Some women may not have a safe way to communicate because their abuser monitors their online activity so be mindful of cyber security and try to keep conversations private.
Resources:
If you are a victim of economic abuse within the context of domestic abuse or are supporting someone who is in that situation, please visit the Assaulted Women’s Helpline. It provides anonymous and confidential crisis counselling as well as informational and emotional support to women.
You can also call them at:
Toll-free: 1-866-863-0511
Toll-free TTY: 1-866-863-7868
Get Support Through the CCFWE:
The Canadian Centre for Women’s Empowerment (CCFWE) was established to advocate against economic abuse. For women experiencing the consequences of economic abuse, CCFWE resources include:
- Webinars
- Financial Literacy Training
- Financial Safety Planning
- Wellness and Selfcare Workshops
- Economic Empowerment Checklist
At CCFWE, we believe knowing what economic abuse is, can help prevent it. Join our Pledge to Fight Economic Abuse and share our #HelpUsRise campaign and toolkit on your social media to increase awareness about economic abuse in your social circles and community.
By Natasha Bulowski, CCFWE Volunteer
