Chinese Women's Financial Independence and Their Intimate Partner Violence Victimization Experiences

Abstract

China, as a traditional patriarchal society, provides an excellent context to examine whether and how increased financial independence of women may influence intimate partner violence. This study examines how financial independence influences Chinese women's victimization experiences of physical violence, psychological violence, controlling behavior, and sexual abuse. Data were collected from 600 married or divorced women aged between 20 and 60, who resided in a large metropolitan area in Southern China. Results indicated that while physical violence is reduced by women's financial independence, other forms of connective IPV against women are suggested as expressions of men's desire to keep financially independent women in place.

Drivers of intention to engage in informal economy activities during maternity leave

“…Women's desire for financial independence is typically motivated by the desire to improve their social status (Rughoobur-Seetah et al, 2022). It tends to arise during women's perceived vulnerability periods (Li et al, 2023) or perceived insecurity (Werner-Bierwisch et al, 2018;Stumbitz et al, 2018). Becoming a mother is always associated with financial (Fiala et al, 2017), psychological (Liang et al, 2019) and social (Taylor and Conger, 2017;Chowdhury et al, 2021) risk, which puts a pregnant woman in a more vulnerable position compared to her nonpregnant counterparts (Yee et al, 2019).…”

Chinese Women's Acceptance of Intimate Partner Violence Against Women

“…It was found that individuals living in countries with the above-mentioned patriarchal social structure are more likely to hold views favorable to the use of IPV and to use violence against their intimate partners (Li, 2022). On the other hand, the patriarchal cultural norms refer to an ideology that justifies men's dominance over women (Chen, 2017;Dobash & Dobash, 1979;Li et al, 2023;Lin et al, 2016Lin et al, , 2018Xue et al, 2018). Therefore, under this ideology, men's use of violence against women as a way of controlling women is promoted.…”

“…Men who believe that IPV is acceptable are more likely to perpetrate IPV, and women who tolerate IPV are more likely to experience IPV (WHO, 2010). Acceptance of IPV is associated with women's victimization, such as controlling behavior, physical violence, psychological violence, and sexual abuse (Li et al, 2023). Attitudes toward accepting or justifying IPV are closely related to responses to violence and violence intervention (Giordano et al, 2015;Sun et al, 2012).…”