Violence against women is a topic that has attracted a lot of attention from audiences today. This violence refers to an action that results in physical, psychological, and social harm or may lead to it.

This issue of human society is not limited to geography, culture, race, or a specific segment of society, and it is seen in varying degrees and forms in every corner of the world. Perhaps it is possible to divide violence against women into four categories: physical violence, sexual violence, psychological and verbal violence, and economic violence, and each of these four types is also divided into two domains: personal (domestic or familial) and public (social and political).

Physical violence, such as hitting and beating, is easily observable and detectable due to its visible and external effects such as bruising, fractures, tears, etc.

Sexual violence refers to any sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual act, unwanted sexual advances or harassment, sexual exploitation or other sexual activities carried out against a person’s will, using force, by any individual regardless of their relationship with the victim, in any environment, including but not limited to the home and workplace. This can include various forms of abuse, forced marriages at a young age, sexual harassment, and so on.

Psychological and verbal violence has also drawn the attention of many activists and women’s rights advocates, as well as gender studies researchers, particularly in societies like Iran, during this time period. These forms of violence, which may not be easily visible, put a large number of women at risk of mental health issues on a daily basis.

As for the fourth category, which is economic violence, it may have received less attention in our country. Economic violence refers to actions that lead to the dependence and impoverishment of women, which has harmful effects on both the individual and society.

To become more familiar with this type of violence, we will discuss a few examples below:

Creating barriers to accessing job opportunities.

Creating an obstacle for continuing education.

Income and expenditure control for women and the threat of cutting it off.

Using debit cards and credit cards.

Payment of a small salary by the employer.

Considering women’s work at home as worthless.

Forcing to work outside of the house.

Forcing someone to do something they are not interested in.

Managing women’s finances and assets.

Receiving his salary by his wife or father.

Paying a small amount for the family’s livelihood and requesting to do a job or purchase a necessity that is not covered by the livelihood expenses.

Creating barriers to meeting his vital needs, including food, clothing, and medical needs.

Eliminating and damaging a woman’s favorite belongings.

The disposal of valuable items by women, such as gold, jewelry, or wedding gifts, or the act of selling a woman’s valuable possessions.

The woman’s unawareness of her husband’s salary and his lack of participation in family’s economic decisions.

And…

According to the fact that 70% of the world’s poor are women (1), this type of violence not only increases poverty among women, but also leaves significant psychological and emotional damage. Economic violence also contributes to the escalation of physical violence. For example, women who face financial limitations from their husbands in providing for their household and children, try their best to meet their children’s needs, which sometimes leads to domestic disputes and physical abuse.

Some of the factors that contribute to this type of violence include cultural and social factors, religious beliefs, legal discrimination in society, and so on.

Economic violence in our country is evident from the text of the law to our homes. According to the law, the man is considered the head of the family and this same law allows the man to prevent the woman from working outside the home or even continuing her education. Creating limitations in jobs based on gender, gendering university majors, and allocating job priorities to men are among the discriminations and economic violence present in the laws and economic policies of the government.

As a result of such laws, a large number of women are deprived of participating in the job market by their husbands. The absence of women in the job market not only hinders the economic development of the country, but also increases their dependence on men. This concern reaches its peak when we realize the bitter reality that many women in the country are even dependent on men for their basic survival and needs.

The existence of economic violence can create a platform for various forms of violence against women, and it can be said that this issue is more noticeable in low-income classes. However, this does not mean that this type of violence does not exist in higher income levels.

In meeting the needs of the family, even in procuring food and clothing, in situations where the woman does not have financial independence and is dependent on the man, it is the man’s desires and preferences that take priority. If the man’s wishes are not fulfilled, the woman may face demands or threats. In most cases, this can lead to the woman neglecting her own needs. For example, in a family where a specific budget is allocated for purchasing a certain fruit, assuming the price is the same for both the man and woman’s preferred fruit, it is always the man’s preference that is considered as the source of income. The purchase of clothing for the woman and children is also done with the permission and desire of the man, and if the man disagrees and does not allow it, the woman may face verbal or even physical violence.

It should be noted that economic dependence in the household is not only limited to the mentioned cases and also has other consequences.

When a woman does not have financial independence, despite unfavorable family conditions and sometimes even being a victim of domestic violence, she is forced to continue living and not leave her home. Because if she leaves, she will have no income to support herself and her children. Or, this type of violence can have opposite consequences and lead to women and girls fleeing their homes.

Economic violence is seen in low-income families in a different way and, for example, the lack of involvement of women in economic decision-making in the family can be mentioned. When a man spends a portion of his income without consulting his wife on non-essential matters outside the family, the woman is not allowed to object or, if she does, she is met with a violent reaction from the man.

One aspect of economic violence is preventing men from allowing women to participate in sports, arts, or any social activity that promotes the development of women’s talents. Taking control of insurance costs or service fees that the government provides for women, or forcing women to obtain government financial facilities through deception, are other examples of this type of violence.

It should be noted that economic violence sometimes creates the conditions for sexual violence to occur as well.

Sexual exploitation of women, sex trafficking, early marriage, and so on are all consequences of poverty and economic violence. Sexual harassment in the workplace, women’s silence and submission to this sexual abuse, and commercial use of their bodies are also among the consequences of this violence imposed on women by society and the family.

Experiencing depression, stress, dependency on chemical drugs, attempted suicide, maternal mortality, risk of HIV infection, risk of unsafe abortion, pregnancy complications, and so on can also be considered as side effects of this type of violence.

Violence against women, in any form, not only leaves lasting effects on their physical and mental well-being, but also causes harm to the individual and society economically.

Unfortunately, providing solutions in a situation where the government and ruling system of the country daily place obstacles in the way of women can be difficult and perhaps even impossible. However, in order to achieve equality and safety, in addition to the extensive efforts of activists and advocates, it is necessary for the government to cooperate in eliminating discriminatory laws and establishing fair laws.

A report on the UN WOMEN website and Carly Fiorina’s report on the program “this week” on ABC network on January 12, 2014.