When people think of domestic violence, they often focus on physical and sexual abuse, particularly in intimate partner relationships. However, economic abuse, a more insidious and often invisible form of abuse, receives far less attention despite its significant impact on victims.
Economic abuse is a form of domestic violence that strips women of financial independence and security, often leaving them vulnerable and trapped in abusive relationships.
This manipulation can manifest in various ways, such as controlling access to money, restricting employment opportunities, or forcing women to take on debt for their partner’s benefit.
A new report from Women’s Aid, titled ‘The Price of Safety’, reveals that it costs approximately £50,000 for survivors to escape abuse and rebuild their lives, based on an illustrative case study.
Asian Voice has spoken to several organisations to discuss the reality of economic abuse faced by women and the underlying issues that contribute to it.
Challenges faced by survivors
Spokesperson of Refuge’s Economic Empowerment Partnership Manager, Francesca Ferrier said, ““Although economic abuse isn’t always talked about as much as other forms of domestic abuse, it can have a devastating impact on the lives of survivors. Our research shows that economic abuse rarely happens in isolation. In fact, 85% of those experiencing economic abuse have also experienced other forms of domestic abuse, such as tech-facilitated abuse. Despite how prevalent economic abuse is, it has taken a while for society to start to see economic abuse as a form of domestic abuse. To this day, economic abuse is often not seen as a high-risk form of abuse.”
Polly Harrar, Founder and Chief Executive of The Sharan Project, highlighted the economic challenges faced by South Asian women, stating, "They are often discouraged from acquiring financial assets like mortgages and pensions, believing that their husbands or male relatives will handle these matters. However, it’s common for credit cards and loans to be taken out in their names, often without their knowledge, leading to debt and poor credit ratings, which makes it difficult for them to escape abusive situations."
“We see many cases where our clients have been financially exploited through their dowry, which often involves money, gold and properties both here in the UK and overseas.
Where access to their dowry has been withheld, women who experience abuse are often not believed, especially if their visa status is reliant on the abuser(s) or they are abandoned or left destitute with little to no legal recourse. This is why we have been calling for dowry abuse to be recognised as a form of coercive control and economic abuse so that abusers can be held to account and to allow South Asian women to rebuild their lives," she added.
Call for support and understanding
Zlakha Ahmed, CEO of Apna Haq, emphasises the prevalence of economic abuse in South Asian communities, particularly affecting immigrant women. She said, “When their husbands run businesses, women are often expected to work long hours—up to 10 a day—without fair compensation, earning as little as £3 per hour. They also bear household responsibilities, including cooking and cleaning, after long workdays. Many women are left without basic necessities, relying on family items for hygiene. Pressured into financially supporting their husbands, they often take out loans or pay bills while facing abuse. Those who leave do so with only the clothes on their backs, risking the loss of their belongings.”
“Finding refuge is challenging, with many shelters charging over £480 a week, making it hard for women with limited savings to afford a place. Even those who secure council accommodation face tough choices, such as choosing between a fridge or a washing machine. Additionally, many women lack budgeting experience, making it difficult to manage rising living costs and essential bills like heating,” she added.
Zlakha underscores the government's role in ensuring a basic standard of living for all while highlighting the need to support vulnerable individuals, especially women and children. She stated, “When women seek help with only the clothes on their backs, we turn to the community for support. We must raise awareness about the realities of abusive relationships and economic hardships. Food banks often provide culturally inappropriate items, like pork for Muslim women, so it’s essential that food parcels meet our communities' dietary needs. Local businesses can also contribute goods and services to support these initiatives.”
