His money or our money: financial abuse of women in intimate partner relationships

In September 2004, the Coburg-Brunswick Community Legal and Financial Counselling Centre released a report on financial abuse of women. This report was based on narrative, action research with 64 women who had experienced financial abuse. Previous research has shown that attitudes towards money are often highly gendered. While literature in the domestic violence field indicates that this can lead to abuse, there is little existing information on this linkage. Financial abuse happens when men control and limit women's access to money. It is a profoundly under-recognized phenomenon that is hidden within societal expectations that couples will share their financial resources for the good of the whole family. Financial abuse can lead to a deeply concealed feminization of poverty within relationships, regardless of the overall assets a family may hold. This may take the form of being: denied access to bank accounts, information and decision making rights regarding finances; kept totally financially dependent; denied enough money to pay bills or buy food, clothes and sanitary products; coerced into servicing their partners' debts or subsidizing their entertainment. This paper presents key findings from the report including detailed recommendations for change in the areas of law reform, community development, financial education and government policy.