Short Answer
Economic violence, or economic abuse, occurs when one partner restricts the other’s access to financial resources, leading to an imbalance in decision-making and autonomy. Key behaviors include preventing employment, controlling spending, and limiting financial knowledge, which can severely impact the victim’s independence and mental health. Understanding these dynamics is essential for addressing and recovering from such abuse.
Step 1: Understand Economic Violence
Economic Violence, also known as economic abuse, refers to a situation where one partner controls and limits the other’s access to financial resources. In this case, the husband is the sole administrator of the conjugal property, which creates an imbalance in financial decision-making and autonomy.
Step 2: Recognize Key Behaviors
In economic violence, several behaviors illustrate the abusive control over finances. These may prevent the victim from achieving financial independence or participating in economic decisions. Key behaviors include:
- Preventing the partner from obtaining a job.
- Making the partner ask for money for personal needs.
- Imposing an allowance that restricts personal spending.
- Taking or controlling the partner’s money without consent.
- Keeping the partner in the dark about family income.
Step 3: Acknowledge the Impact
The impact of economic violence can be profound, as it limits the victim’s financial freedom and personal autonomy. The partner might feel helpless and unable to make choices related to their life, leading to long-term psychological effects and dependency on the controlling partner. Recognizing these dynamics is a crucial step towards addressing and healing from economic violence.