The choice: violence or poverty

ABSTRACT

How to reduce the incidence of domestic violence continues to challenge policymakers in Australia. This article draws upon a Keynote Address delivered at a University of Technology Sydney Symposium on gender equality, domestic violence and work. Through presenting ground-breaking data on domestic violence in Australia, I show the stark situation many women face in Australia – to stay with violent partners or leave a violent relationship and risk poverty. Domestic violence often has immediate and longer-term consequences for employment with as many as 50% of women facing lower incomes and cash flow problems. Existing government policy is inadequate, with a phenomenon of ‘policy-induced poverty’ arising for many women who leave violent relationships. Further research and policy development is required to not only understand the work and employment consequences for women experiencing domestic violence, but examine ways in which policy can be improved to support victims of violence.

KEYWORDS:

• Domestic violence
• poverty
• partner violence
• employment

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. Summers A (2022) The Choice: Violence of Poverty. University of Technology Sydney. https://doi.org/10.26195/3s1r-4977

2. Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey.

3. I am grateful to the Department of Social Services for providing these numbers of recipients of each of the two payments.

4. Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety.

5. Australian Council of Social Service.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Anne Summers

Anne Summers AO is Profressor of Domestic and Family Violence at the Business School University of Technology, Sydhey. She is the author of nine books including the classic Damned Whores ansd God’s Police, first published in 1975 and still in print.