The Economic empowerment of women as a factor contributing to the prevention of domestic violence

ENIn Europe, statistical data indicate links between gender equality, the economic independence of women, and cases of domestic violence and their severity. This chapter focuses on the economic empowerment of women and argues that the economic situation of a woman living in poverty makes her more vulnerable to abuse; economic independence is also a prerequisite for separating a victim from the perpetrator, because a victim tends to stay in an abusive partnership if she cannot meet her (and her children’s) living expenses. Moreover, economic independence raises the self-esteem of women and strengthens decision-making abilities, while lower income and work status, combined with domestic tasks perceived as being a woman’s responsibility, foster gender inequity and perceptions of women as inferior to men. The chapter analyses the concept of the economic empowerment of women as a factor contributing to the prevention of domestic violence and the means to achieve it and presents examples of how the objective of the economic empowerment of women is addressed in Central and Eastern European countries, focusing on Lithuania and Poland. [Publisher annotation]