Financial abuse— A subtle yet suffocating grip that holds many women captive, draining their economic power and stifling their potential.
A few days ago, I came across two shocking stories that left me speechless. Two jobless husbands asked their wives’ employers to sack them because they had become “too proud” due to being financially independent.
These stories aren’t isolated incidents. They’re symptoms of a deeper issue: patriarchy and all the ways it seeks to control women. These put stringent limitations on women’s financial independence and foster the abuse of women.
Intimate partner violence (IPV) — in which one person uses emotional, financial, sexual and/or physical violence to exert power and control over their partner — is consistently identified as the most common form of gender-based violence. While both women and men experience violence, women are significantly more likely to experience this form of abuse.
The many faces of financial abuse
Through interviews and surveys, WomenACT explored the subject of financial abuse, detailing the various forms it manifests in relationships.
Control over finances: One partner dominates financial decision-making, restricting the other’s access to money, employment, or education.
Withholding resources: A partner refuses to contribute to household expenses, forcing the other to bear the financial burden alone.
Exploitation: One partner takes advantage of the other’s financial resources, such as credit cards, bank accounts, or income.
Sabotage: A partner intentionally destroys financial documents or interferes with employment opportunities.
Gaslighting: A partner manipulates the other’s perception of financial reality, making them doubt their own financial decisions or memory.
When male egos are bruised, women suffer
When women earn more or achieve success, some men feel their masculinity is under attack. The resulting behavior can be devastating – emotional abuse, manipulation, and even violence. But what about the countless women who are the backbone of their families?
For women who are able to earn a living, the odds are stacked against them. Women already earn less than men, with the gender pay gap estimated at around 20% globally. In Nigeria, this issue is more pressing than ever. According to a recent report, women in Nigeria earn an average of 45% less than their male counterparts for the same work.
Women in Nigeria, as seen in both stories, are more likely to work in the informal sector, earning lower wages and lacking access to social protection. This affects their earning potential, pension prospects, and overall economic security.
Children and society also suffer
The damage isn’t limited to the women; it seeps into the lives of their children, leaving lasting trauma. Financial abuse often leaves their futures uncertain, as limited resources curtail access to education and healthcare. Poverty deepens, and potential withers. Societies stagnate, trapped in cycles of dependency and inequality.
But when women earn, they invest in their families, fuel economic growth, and shatter glass ceilings. Their independence ignites a brighter future, where children thrive and communities flourish. Every earned naira is a testament to a woman’s strength, a catalyst for change, and a beacon of hope.
Breaking the cycle of financial abuse
It’s time to proactively challenge these outdated beliefs and norms. We must create spaces where women feel safe to thrive and our success is seen as a win for everyone, not a threat to fragile egos. The journey to independence isn’t easy. But with every step forward, women reclaim their power.
For women everywhere, it’s a reminder: your worth isn’t defined by anyone else’s ego. Your success is your own, and it’s worth fighting for.
