What is economic violence and what can you do to protect yourself?

We often talk about psychological, physical, and verbal violence, but much less so about economic violence, a silent form of abuse deeply rooted in the daily lives of many families. It doesn’t raise its voice, it doesn’t leave bruises, but it takes away opportunities, autonomy, and freedom. Sometimes it begins imperceptibly, with one person managing money "for convenience" or with the suggestion not to work because "it’s better for the family." Then, slowly, economic dependence grows: you can’t buy what you need without asking, every expense must be justified, the bills cannot be seen, and access to money becomes a granted privilege, not a right.

It’s at that moment that normality turns into control. Understanding economic violence means giving it a name, recognizing it when it happens, and not confusing it with simply managing family expenses. This guide was created with this very goal: to explain what it is, how it can manifest itself in everyday life and what concrete steps those who suffer it can take to regain autonomy and financial freedom.

Economic violence: meaning and definition

Economic violence is a form of abuse exercised through control of a person’s financial resources. It’s not just about money itself, but the power that money represents: choosing, buying, moving, living. Violence becomes violence when a person’s access to money, payments, employment, or management of family assets is limited, resulting in a loss of decision-making autonomy.

According to ISTAT 2025 data, among women who have or have had a partner, 6.6% report having experienced episodes of economic violence. We are therefore talking about a concrete and yet still largely invisible reality, often minimized or mistaken for normal family management.

Difference between economic dependence and economic violence

Economic dependence can arise from shared family arrangements, such as one partner working while the other takes care of the house. This situation in itself is not violence. It becomes economic violence, however, when autonomy is denied, when spending is prohibited without permission, or when resources become an instrument of power, pressure, or punishment.

The difference is subtle but essential. When the choice is shared and respected, the family’s economic management can function in balance. However, when it is imposed, when access to money is not free but dependent on the other’s permission, then that dependence turns into a form of control and therefore into economic violence. When the person managing the money makes decisions for both, when the other partner doesn’t have access to the accounts or must demand every cent, the inequality turns into abuse.

How Economic Violence Manifests (and When)

Economic violence can take different forms and often creeps into daily life without being immediately recognized as abuse. It isn’t always obvious: sometimes it appears as simple expense management, a decision made for convenience, or a consolidated family habit. Over time, however, it can transform into a full-blown control over resources, limiting freedom, choices, and autonomy. Here’s how it can manifest itself concretely in key family situations.

In Couple Relationships

• It often manifests itself within the home, in everyday life. One person controls the account, decides on expenses, evaluates what is necessary and what isn’t. The other person must ask, justify it, wait. It can happen when a partner’s work is prevented or discouraged, when receipts or authorizations for purchases are requested, when access to accounts is denied, or wages are withheld and managed by others. In the most severe cases, the person no longer has access to their own money, cannot build savings, and is unable to leave the relationship because they are financially blocked. It’s a veritable economic trap.

When it affects children

• Economic violence can also affect children, especially when the money intended for their support is withheld, reduced, or used as a means of pressure against the other parent. This occurs, for example, when child support turns into blackmail, when medical or school expenses are denied as punishment, or when resources for minors are used for other purposes. In these cases, the damage is not only financial, but also affects the child’s emotional well-being, creating tension, insecurity, and a conflictual family climate that also affects their growth and emotional well-being.

When it affects the elderly or frail

• Economic violence can also affect the elderly, people with disabilities, or those who depend on others for daily care. These situations manifest when pensions or income are withheld, when bank cards and codes are hidden, when the person is pressured into signing documents they don’t understand, or when they are denied access to their money, even for essential expenses. In these cases, abuse is easily confused with care, but behind it lie exploitation, manipulation, and control made possible precisely by the victim’s vulnerability.

What to do in the event of economic violence? Here’s how to defend yourself

Economic violence can manifest itself in many ways. Sometimes it’s obvious, other times it’s hidden in everyday life: control of money, limited access to your bank account, a ban on work, demands to justify every purchase, withholding documents or cards. Recognizing these behaviors as violence is the first step to protecting yourself and regaining decision-making space in your life.

When you realize you’re trapped in this dynamic, it can be helpful to keep bank statements, messages, emails, screenshots, receipts, or photographs of stolen goods. These are elements that, when seeking protection, can make a difference.

Regaining financial independence is a journey of small steps: opening a personal account when possible, learning about bonuses and grants dedicated to those who suffer violence, seeking employment opportunities, even temporary or remote ones. Every step counts! Economic violence doesn’t leave visible bruises, but it can take away your voice and your freedom. Recognizing it, talking about it, and asking for help means starting to build a different future. Economic freedom is personal freedom and deserves to be defended.

Original article published on Money.it Italy. Original title: Cos’è la violenza economica e cosa fare per difendersi