Economic independence curbs violence against women
She said also concerning is that in 2014 the few women who can access the economy, are not paid equal wages for equal work.
Each year, as we commemorate 16 Days of Activism against gender violence, the most common question asked is, “How do we curb violence against women?”
“Of course there is no one single simple solution to this pandemic, but one of the key solutions is economic independence. When women are uneducated and financially dependent, they are less able to escape abuse and negotiate all aspects of their lives,” said Ms Anne Hilton, the Entrepreneurship Manager at Gender Links.
“The absence of women’s economic equality is a primary factor in the perpetuation of gender inequalities and gender-based violence (GBV). Economic discrimination takes many forms. For instance, work deemed ‘women’s work’ is largely undervalued and unpaid. Women are virtually missing from economic decision-making and also tend to be employed in the lowest paid and least skilled jobs. In developing countries women persistently represent the majority of the working poor. This economic disempowerment is further exacerbated by educational disparities between girls and boys,” said Ms Hilton.
She said also concerning is that in 2014 the few women who can access the economy, are not paid equal wages for equal work. “This is not a developing economy phenomenon. It is a global trend. In South Africa, women earn 35 percent less than men. In other words, men can earn in eight months what women earn in 12 months. From all perspectives ,constitutional, legal and ethical, this is absurdly and intrinsically unfair and a blatant infringement of human rights,” said Ms Hilton.
She said women are also disempowered within the ‘informal sector’ – a sector in which women outnumber men in most countries, because they are sidelined from the ‘formal economy’.
Women have to rely on microfinance which offers very small loans which is not enough for small enterprises to grow.
“While microfinance has played an important role in women’s lives, governments must ensure legislation guarantees equal access to productive resources and credit for women and promote alternative funding models to meet the needs of business women at all levels. Furthermore, banks need to develop gender responsive lending mechanisms since women often do not own collateral due to traditional, cultural and social ‘norms’ that impede women’s inheritance and ownership of land.
“Lack of access to the economy and appropriate finance reinforces gender inequalities and helps fuel GBV. When women are reliant on men for their economic well-being and survival, they are less likely to leave abusive relationships, and this perpetuates not only their abuse, but a broader cycle of violence. According to the Gender Links VAW Indicators study, child abuse and children’s experiences of violence are a primary driver of GBV. Most perpetrators interviewed admitted having witnessed or experienced violence as children,” said Ms Hilton.
Economic abuse
Economic abuse is also a form of GBV. Forms of economic abuse can include the restricting of mobility and freedom of movement by denying access to money; refusing to allow a person to earn an independent income; or restricting money for household use and maintenance such as food and clothing.
It is because of this nexus between economic dependence and vulnerability to GBV that Gender Links developed the Entrepreneurship Programme aimed at survivors of violence. The programme teaches life skills and business training, to help women become self-reliant, autonomous and free to negotiate their lives.
“To date, GL has trained 1 200 women in 10 SADC countries since 2013, and will continue to support them through partnership arrangements with both the public and private sectors,” said Ms Hilton.
“This kind of empowerment must be central to all national action plans to fight GBV and all gender equality strategies. This agency and autonomy gives women the freedom to choose and the capacity to participate in all spheres of public and private life. Not only do we need 365 days of political and social commitment to eradicating GBV, we need 365 days of empowerment,” said Ms Hilton.
