Financial abuse against women is not always related to a man restricting his partner's access to funds; it can also manifest as a refusal to take financial responsibility and the exploitation of a woman's earnings.
Obligations
Economic abuse can limit women's employment opportunities or force them into exploitative positions with limited growth prospects. Financial abuse has many forms, and it is not necessarily a situation where one partner controls the other's finances. It can also occur when one partner deliberately avoids financial obligations, placing an unjustified financial burden on the other.
Studies on economic abuse against women have documented precisely this behavior, including cases where husbands become chronically dependent on women's work or consciously refuse to fulfill family financial responsibilities. According to a study published in the Journal of Family Issues, working women reported financial sabotage linked to their husbands' chronic economic dependence and failure to meet family financial obligations.
Women often used their own funds to maintain the household when their partners were unemployed or had low incomes. However, some noted that even when a partner had income, he intentionally refused to provide financial support, relying on the woman and depleting her finances. This led some women into debt and caused relationship conflicts. Researchers also found that women who challenged their partners' failure to meet financial obligations could face emotional and physical violence.
Exploitation
Nevertheless, Rene Moonsamy warns that a woman providing financial support to her partner does not inherently make the relationship abusive. He emphasizes the important distinction between a situation where one partner earns more or temporarily supports the other, and a situation of financial exploitation. Many couples consciously agree on the distribution of financial burdens due to factors such as childcare, unemployment, or education.
Moonsamy notes that concern arises when a woman is expected to bear the financial burden without her genuine consent, especially if the partner is capable of contributing but refuses. He states: 'The problem lies in the lack of genuine agreement, where one partner is expected to cover household expenses, the partner's lifestyle, or take on debts, while the other is unwilling to participate despite being able to do so. Over time, this can lead to the financially responsible partner becoming excessively burdened with debt and financially vulnerable.'
Australian studies on economic abuse showed that victims, including women, described partners who repeatedly asked for money, persuaded them to lend funds without intending to repay them, forced them to pay for everything alone, or made them solely responsible for joint debts. Some partners also concealed their debts, income, or employment status. One study of university freshmen found that 18% reported at least one form of economic abuse, the most common of which was being asked to use their own money to buy things for their partner or pay bills when they did not want to.
Beyond Money
For women experiencing economic abuse, the consequences can extend beyond the direct loss of funds. A study published through the National Library of Medicine established that economic abuse can seriously undermine women's financial security by limiting their access to economic opportunities and assets, as well as damaging their long-term financial capabilities.
A link has also been established between economic abuse, depression, and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Even having a job does not guarantee protection. The study showed that economic abuse can restrict women's career prospects or force them into exploitative jobs with poor conditions and limited chances of advancement, potentially harming their career and well-being in the long run. Moonsamy argues that healthy financial relationships do not require both partners to contribute exactly equally. He concludes: 'We often focus on who earns the money, but healthy financial relationships are actually about transparency, contribution, and shared responsibility. Contribution doesn't have to be equal in amounts, but both partners must understand and agree on how the household's financial responsibility is carried.'