Women's Economic Abuse Advocacy

Empowering Women to Break Free from Economic Abuse to Independence

Understanding Economic Abuse

Economic Abuse is a common form of violence against women statistically defined as ‘any act or behaviour which causes economic harm to an individual’. Perpetrators of economic abuse control the victim’s ability to ‘acquire, use, and maintain economic resources, threatening their economic security and potential for self-sufficiency’.

Economic abuse is a form of Gender-Based Violence, and often co-occurs with other forms of violence (physical, psychological, and sexual), coercing and controlling behaviors.

*Source: European Institute for Gender Equality. (n.d.). Economic violence, 2023.

Why Speaking Out Matters

Breaking the silence around economic abuse is crucial for several reasons:

  • Awareness Saves Lives: Many women do not even realize they are experiencing economic abuse. By speaking out, we raise awareness, helping women identify the signs and seek help.
  • Reducing Stigma: economic abuse is often shrouded in shame and secrecy. Open discussions challenge the stigma, making it easier for victims to come forward.
  • Driving Change: Public awareness is a powerful catalyst for policy change. The more we talk about economic abuse, the more likely governments and institutions are to implement protective measures and support systems.
  • Empowering Others: When women who experienced economic abuse share their stories, it inspires others to take action, either by leaving abusive situations or by supporting those who are struggling.

Forms of Gender-based Violence

physical, sexual,emotional, psychological, economic or tech abuse

Stalking and harassment

Trafficking

Female genital mutilation (FGM)

Forced marriage

Financial Abuse Knows No Borders

1 in 3

women globally have experienced economic abuse in their lifetime

50

of women who experience economic abuse reported difficulty in regaining their financial independence after leaving their abuser

95

of women who experienced economic abuse struggle to achieve financial stability, leading to reliance on abusive partners, perpetuating their economic dependence

99

of women who experience physical violence also experience economic abuse

How Does Economic

Abuse Affect Women?

Economic abuse doesn’t happen in isolation. It is deeply rooted in societal and systemic issues that fuel it. 

Economic abuse is little understood or recognized as a form of violence, yet it is often one of the more persistent forms of gender-based violence. Although women report experiencing economic abuse less frequently than physical, sexual, and psychological violence, economic abuse had the highest rate of occurrence.

What Economic Abuse looks like in everyday life...

It’s not just about money—it’s about power and control

Economic Control
  • Restricting access to money, necessities, financial assets, and information.
  • Controlling the amount of money you can spend or tracking their use.
  • Preventing you from obtaining bank accounts in their name or from making financial decisions.
Economic Explotation
  • Opening a line of credit in their partners’ name without consent, and or building up debt under their name.
  • Stealing or damaging a victim’s property or resources or selling them without permission.
  • Taking wages, pensions, or other forms of financial aid from a victim without permission.
Economic Sabotage
  • Preventing a victim from attending employment and educational activities or sabotaging items needed to fulfill such activities.
  • Interfering with a victim’s work or education.
  • Refusing to contribute towards childcare responsibilities.

WE AIM TO BREAK THAT CYCLE

We run two programs, Job Skills and Bootcamp for Entrepreneurs, for marginalised women between the ages of 18 and 55. Our courses are designed to address the evolving and debilitating political, environmental, and socio-economic challenges this demographic faces. In addition, our courses are delivered by local women who have first-hand experience of these challenges.

Over 2,500 women and over 13000 family members

lifted out of cycles of extreme poverty and violence. Our model has been effective and sustainable for 14+ years. We have the expertise and a proven portfolio of programs to assist women, survivors of gender-based violence, with low educational levels and work skills with tailor-made, needs-based, training and support to achieve financial independence.

OUR PROGRAMS

Their current struggle

Women living in poverty and economic abuse + Kids without education

Our solution

job skills programs + psychological support to break the perpetuating cycle

The results

Financial and emotional independence

13,000

family members lifted out of poverty

01

We provide them with our cost-free programs: Job Skills and Entrepreneur Bootcamp to equip them with income-generating skills.

Our programs aim to equip them with the basic, vital skills to insert themselves in the job market. The topics include financial independence, budgeting, psycho-social support, self-esteem, communication, conflict resolution, how to budget (at home), and more. Our 3 pronged teaching approach (groups, online, and one-to-one) results in high retention rates and offers realistic goals

02

They receive psychosocial support, personalised life coaching and we connect them to supportive communities

They receive personalized support during and after taking part in a program. This includes their families receiving mentoring to ease the transition of her starting to work. The psychologist and coordinator do home visits, get to know the families, to understand the relationships and any socio-economic barriers they experience to help them overcome and work with them.

03

Later on, we connect them with local employment opportunities, to get a stable job, or grow a small home based business

Success rate is still 95%; upon graduating our programs. They get a stable job, or run a small home based business, and become financially independent.

Janixa

was the victim of a machete attack by her partner.

Abandoned as a baby, Janixa grew up in an orphanage in Ciudad Sandino, Managua.

She didn't finish elementary school. Age 16 she escaped to La Chureca, a community living on the municipal trash dump, and began a cycle of extreme poverty, leading her into a world of drugs and prostitution. To escape this situation, she entered into a violent and controlling relationship, then, in 2017 Janixa enrolled with XtraOrdinary Women.

It was common for her to arrive in tears, a victim of violence. On the day of her graduation from the program, she was the victim of machete blows to the head and arms, inflicted by her partner and father of her baby, with whom she had a toxic relationship for three years.

While in the course, she began to question the custom of receiving and following her orders. Janixa is now a single mother, and has a stable job, for more than two years, with our partner Serviplus. She wanted to be the best mother for her baby, the mother she never had. We helped Janixa break her cycle of poverty and flip her odds.

DONATE TODAY

Maricela

felt the sharp edge of a knife on her neck at the hands of her partner.

One night in 2015, Maricela felt the sharp edge of a knife on her neck at the hands of her partner. For six years, she was subjected to physical and psychological abuse. Abuse was routine in her life, to the point that her second baby was conceived by rape.

She had grown up under the violence of her parents, with no opportunity for education, no chance for self-fulfillment. Fleeing from this situation, she found a worse one. Her partner did not let her study or work. He watched her when she went out. Maricela sought a spot on the XtraOrdinary Women program.

She received personalized psychosocial support, job training, and financial support from her scholarship.

For the first time, she realized that her life did not have to be this way. That night in 2015, her partner put a knife to her neck, then to her oldest son, and threw her baby against a fan. That violent night, Maricela gathered her courage and decided to break the cycle of violence. Despite the threats, she sought protection and broke up with her partner.

She decided to change her life. She completed our program, we placed her in her first job. With her financial independence, Maricela provides for her children, and for herself.

DONATE TODAY
xow-maricelas testimony

We are every woman’s cheerleader!

empowerment-xow

This silent epidemic doesn’t just rob women of their finances; it steals their choices, their voices, and, ultimately, their futures.

Every action counts—whether it’s learning about the signs of abuse, sharing María’s story to raise awareness, or supporting our programs that empower women to reclaim their independence. Together, we can create a world where no woman has to choose between survival and freedom.

OUR PROGRAMS

Subscribe to our Newsletter