ECONOMIC DEPENDENCY AND VIOLENCE AGAINST MEN IN ABIA STATE MARRIAGES

ECONOMIC DEPENDENCY AND VIOLENCE AGAINST MEN IN ABIA STATE MARRIAGES

1.1 Background of the Study

Economic interdependence is a central feature of marital relationships, yet imbalanced dependency can become a vector for abuse. In Abia State, traditional gender roles often position men as sole or primary breadwinners; when economic pressures—such as unemployment or debt—erode this role, some male spouses report experiencing violence from their partners, including physical aggression and financial coercion (Myhill, 2017; Walker-Descartes et al., 2021).

Sociological analyses of domestic violence note that role reversals and threat to masculine identity can provoke partner aggression as a means of restoring perceived power (Gruebner et al., 2017). Psychological research further links financial control—denial of access to family funds or purposeful withholding of resources—to emotional distress and diminished self-worth in male victims (Arango et al., 2018). Yet the intersection of economic dependency and male victimization in Nigerian marriages remains virtually unexplored, particularly within the socio-cultural context of Abia State.

 

1.2 Statement of the Problem

While domestic violence is often framed as male-perpetrated, there is growing anecdotal evidence of female-initiated abuse against economically dependent husbands in Abia State. Lack of empirical data on the prevalence, forms, and determinants of such violence leaves male victims marginalized in both academic research and policy responses.

 

1.3 Objectives of the Study

To determine the prevalence and types of partner violence experienced by economically dependent men in Abia State marriages.

To examine how economic dependency interacts with gender norms to influence the risk and nature of abuse.

To develop recommendations for economic-empowerment and support interventions that protect vulnerable male spouses.

 

1.4 Research Questions

What forms of violence—physical, emotional, or financial—do economically dependent men report experiencing from their spouses?

How does the degree of economic dependency correlate with severity and frequency of abuse?

What community-based or policy measures can mitigate risk and provide recourse for male victims?

 

1.5 Significance of the Study

Gender Equality Advocates & NGOs: Will obtain evidence to broaden the scope of domestic-violence interventions to include men.

Economic Empowerment Programs: Insights to design targeted support—vocational training, microcredit—for dependent husbands.

Policy Makers & Legal Practitioners: Data to inform inclusive domestic-violence legislation and support services that recognize male victims.

 

1.6 Scope and Limitation of the Study

Scope: Survey of married men aged 25–60 in urban and rural Abia communities who report partial or complete financial dependency on their spouses.

Limitations:

Disclosure Reluctance: Cultural norms may hinder men from reporting abuse or acknowledging dependency.

Causality Complexity: Economic dependency interacts with multiple factors (alcohol use, mental health), complicating direct attribution.

 

1.7 Definition of Terms

Economic Dependency: Condition in which one spouse relies largely on the other for financial resources and decision-making.

Financial Coercion: Partner’s use of economic means—restricting access to money, forbidding work—to control the other.

Masculine Identity Threat: Psychological distress experienced when traditional male roles are undermined.

Partner Violence: Any act of physical, emotional, or financial abuse perpetrated by an intimate partner.

Economic Empowerment Interventions: Programs—skill training, microfinance—that enhance individuals’ financial autonomy.

 

List of References

Arango, C., Díaz-Caneja, C. M., McGorry, P. D., Rapoport, J., Sommer, I. E., Vorstman, J. A., … Carpenter, W. (2018). Preventive strategies for mental health. The Lancet Psychiatry, 5(7), 591–604.

Gruebner, O., Rapp, M. A., Adli, M., Kluge, U., Galea, S., & Heinz, A. (2017). Cities and mental health. Deutsches Ärzteblatt International, 114(8), 121–127.

Myhill, A. (2017). Measuring domestic violence: Context is everything. Journal of Gender-Based Violence, 1(1), 33–47.

Walker-Descartes, I., Mineo, M., Condado, L. V., & Agrawal, N. (2021). Domestic violence and its effects on women, children, and families. Pediatric Clinics, 68(2), 455–464.