TradeHorizon Reports – Pandemic’s financial effects increase violence against women
London, UK, 5th Feb 2022, ZEXPRWIRE, It is true, unfortunately, that women are still not viewed as equals in many societies today. And it is true that many rights and privileges we take for granted in the West and other first-world countries are nonexistent or difficult to attain for women elsewhere around the globe. Women’s rights have come a very long way in many countries around the world, but the fight is certainly not over yet. Sadly, many people around the world still do not view women as being equal to men. There are even some countries in which women have no rights at all – or have limited them so much that they might as well be nonexistent.
TradeHorizon expert analyst says that financial freedom and equal opportunity in business is one such area that has seen massive strides around the world but still needs work. And it is particularly in this area that many women have to fight the same battles all over again. The truth is that if you are a woman, even today, you are not automatically entitled to open your own business or have full access to loans and other financial services. But if you do manage to find yourself in such a situation, you are not automatically entitled to equal opportunities with respect to your male counterparts.
The Australian study
According to a study published recently by Australian researchers, women who were financially disadvantaged as a result of the coronavirus pandemic were also more likely to be assaulted by their spouses. The National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety in Australia conducted this survey, including a total of 10,000 women between the ages of 18 and older. It investigated the experience of these females in the first year after the pandemic.
When compared to individuals who were economically secure, those with high levels of financial stress were found to be “much more likely” to have experienced physical violence or emotional abuse for the first time in their relationships. The researchers discovered that domestic violence was more likely in relationships with financial disparity.
Australia has implemented some of the most severe pandemic measures in the world, with international borders sealed and major cities locked down for months on end. Those regulations, according to the researchers, have helped contribute to violence against women by creating a pressure cooker scenario.
What does it mean?
This study indicates that the economic downturn brought on by the pandemic had a devastating impact on the financial stability of families and led to an increase in violence against women. TradeHorizon expert says that this is a troubling situation that must be remedied. It is sad that people who are already in vulnerable situations often suffer the most when things take a turn for the worse. In this case, women with little financial stability were exposed to increased danger not just within their families but also in society at large.
Experts have long warned about the link between economic instability and violence against women. The truth is that when families are already living on the brink of poverty, they are more likely to feel threatened by financial uncertainties – which can lead to increased hostility between family members or to other types of violence.
According to a study published last year by U.N. Women, an international organization dedicated to gender equality, the pandemic had made women feel more insecure and vulnerable to abuse, sexual degradation, and assault, all of which was harming their mental health and emotional well-being.
Women in 13 countries were surveyed, and 45 per cent said they or someone they knew had been subjected to some sort of assault since the start of the pandemic. The women who claimed this were 1.3 times more likely than others questioned to report higher mental and emotional tension. Some of the included countries were Albania, Bangladesh, Colombia, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Morocco, Nigeria, Thailand and Ukraine.
The Importance of Economic and Social Equality for Women and Girls
Economic inequality leads to gender-based violence because many men who feel their masculinity is challenged by the rise of women’s equality may resort to acts of violence as a means to reassert their male identity and dominance over women. And in general, when women and girls are excluded from equal participation in society, men and boys suffer as well.
It is highly important to recognize the link between financial stress, increased rates of violence against women, lack of access to education, limited employment opportunities for women, poor enforcement of laws related to dowry or bride burnings or honour killings. For this reason, experts say that reducing and eliminating these inequalities and violence requires a whole-of-society response.
TradeHorizon expert says that financial independence is vital for women’s ability to protect themselves from violence. Financial empowerment empowers women to make decisions about their own lives, including staying in or leaving an abusive relationship, accessing treatment for drug dependency, or choosing not to marry or have children early. It is also key to the economic empowerment of communities and nations.
Disclaimer: Our content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own research before making any investment based on your own personal circumstances. You should take independent financial advice from a professional in connection with, or independently research and verify, any information that you find on this article and wish to rely upon, whether for the purpose of making an investment decision or otherwise.