1. Job Losses and Reduced Earning:
>Mass unemployment and business closures, primarily in the informal sector where many women are employed, led to a significant loss of income, leaving women vulnerable to financial dependence and control by their partners.
2. Increased Caregiving Burdens:
>With school closure, childcare facilities, and the elderly, women often took on additional caregiving duties that limited their ability to engage in paid work or entrepreneurship opportunities.
3. Digital Divide:
>The shift towards online platforms and digital transactions exposed the gender gap in access to technology, leaving many women excluded from economic opportunities and decision-making.
4. Intimate Partner Violence:
>The Pandemic also led to an increase in domestic violence cases as a result of heightened stress, financial strain, and confinement within homes. Economic abuse often overlaps with other forms of violence, leaving women trapped in cycles of dependency and fear.
5. Barriers to Justice:
>The disruption of legal systems and court proceedings due to COVID-19 has impacted women's ability to seek legal recourse in cases of economic abuse, property rights dispute, and inheritance issues, further entrenching their economic vulnerability.
6. Impact on Women Entrepreneurs:
>Many women-led businesses were disproportionately affected by Pandemic restrictions and reduced consumers' spending. This setback in entrepreneurship limited women's economic autonomy and opportunities for growth
7. Health Services Barriers:
> The pandemic disrupted healthcare services, impacting women's access to reproductive healthcare and family planning resources. This could have economic implications by exacerbating unmet need and affecting women's ability to return to the workforce.
To address these forms of economic abuse, policies and initiatives must be designed with a gender-sensitive lens, ensuring women have equal access to resources, support services, skill-development programs, and legal protections. Empowering women financially and creating support networks are crucial to breaking cycles of economic abuse and creating a more equitable and inclusive society post-pandemic.
