Proceedings of the Global Conference on Gender Studies
Year: 2024
DOI:
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Financial Education to contrast financial abuse: A preliminary study in the anti-violence center population
Vincenzo Scardigno, Mariantonietta Intonti
ABSTRACT:
Financial abuse is a form of violence that includes the deprivation over control of the victim’s finances, impediments and prohibitions in access to employment and education, as well as use of others’ financial resources for one’s own interests (Stylianou, 2017). In conditions of financial violence, literature and practice show how financial education, intended as acquisition of knowledge and the skills necessary to manage financial resources in an informed and knowledgeable manner (Banca d’Italia, 2024), can be a useful tool for not giving up or regaining control of one’s financial resources, acquiring autonomy and self-esteem. Recent research suggests that lack of control over one’s money is among the most frequently cited reasons for not leaving an abusive relationship; this makes the theme particularly significant to study within the population of people enrolled in the anti-violence centers. The main objectives of this study are, on one hand, to assess the prevalence of financial abuse in people who are victims of other abuses, and on the other hand, to assess awareness of the concepts of financial abuse and of the importance of financial education to empower autonomy. Those questions will be answered through a data collection conducted in collaboration with the anti-violence center using a questionnaire designed ad hoc, basing oh the Financial Abuse Screening Tool (FAST). The data collection started on the 1 of July and will end on the 31 of October. The preliminary results showed a high prevalence (95%) of financial abuse on other types of abuses victims, with a high number of people reporting being prevented from entering the world of work. Moreover, the awareness of financial abuse results widespread on victims of financial abuses. The long-term goal of the study is to develop a financial education course for potential victims, which will enable financial emancipation and combat the subtle forms of financial violence.
keywords: financial education, financial abuse, empowerment, gender violence