Imagine Araba—a mother with quiet dreams and loud fears. Trapped in an abusive marriage with no income or support, she faces a painful dilemma each day: stay in danger or risk homelessness and hunger with her children.
Araba’s story isn’t unique. It echoes the lives of millions of women around the world, caught in a relentless cycle where poverty and gender-based violence (GBV) fuel each other like fire and oxygen.
How poverty lays the groundwork for abuse
In many communities, gender roles still define a woman’s life. Men are cast as the breadwinners; women, as homemakers. But for countless women, being a homemaker isn’t a choice—it’s a trap. Many have no access to education, job opportunities, or financial resources. They rely entirely on their partners, not out of preference but necessity.
Without access to job opportunities, Araba became entirely dependent on her husband. This often sets the stage for abuse, and for Araba, it played out like this:
- She cared for everything at home—cleaning, cooking, and raising their children—while her husband worked and controlled the finances.
- Over time, he began to see her not as a partner but as a convenience, someone who owed him obedience rather than deserved his respect.
- Hoping to mend the cracks, Araba gave even more of herself—kindness, patience, and love.
- But the more she gave, the more he withheld.
This power imbalance creates an abusive dynamic—what begins as emotional manipulation spirals into psychological torment and then, for many, physical violence.
For Araba, love was replaced by control, affection gave way to resentment, and arguments turned into insults and bruises.
Without money or a support network, survivors like Araba face a heartbreaking choice: endure the violence or brave a life of uncertainty and likely deprivation. According to ActionAid, poverty strips women of autonomy and decision-making power, making it harder to escape abuse.
Financial independence, by contrast, gives women the ability to choose—something Araba and millions like her are often denied. According to the Borgen Project, economic insecurity is one of the primary reasons survivors stay in abusive relationships.
And the data supports it. A World Bank study found that when women in rural Bangladesh received both cash transfers and gender-sensitive education, rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) fell by 26%—even months after the program ended.
Araba never got that kind of support—but imagine what might have changed if she had.
How GBV traps women in poverty
Gender-based violence doesn’t just destroy the present—it erodes the future. Survivors like Araba often suffer from trauma that affects their ability to work or hold a job. Some are forced to drop out of the workforce altogether, while others are actively sabotaged by their abusers—prevented from going to work or harassed until they lose their jobs.
There are also financial burdens: medical bills, therapy, relocation, and child care. And the pain doesn’t stop with one generation. Children raised in violent homes are more likely to grow up in poverty and replicate those patterns in adulthood.
For women already living in poverty, these challenges are even greater. Without intervention, the cycle remains unbroken: violence leads to economic hardship, which in turn increases vulnerability to more violence.
Breaking the cycle
The path to freedom starts with economic empowerment. Programs that offer education and vocational training, micro-loans, job opportunities, legal aid, and safe shelters are proven to help survivors break free. For example, over half of all the women who receive a Soroptimist Live Your Dream Award identify as survivors of violence or abuse—and 96% of them are now living in a safe environment thanks to the award’s financial aid that helped open a path to education and independence.
Yet, addressing GBV isn’t just about giving women tools—it’s also about fixing systems. Legal frameworks like the Istanbul Convention and the UN’s CEDAW treaty outline explicit protections for women and obligations for governments. But too often, these laws exist only on paper. In many low-income regions, enforcement is weak, access to justice is limited, and survivors like Araba are left to fend for themselves.
Governments must do more—not just by passing laws but by enforcing them and investing in housing, healthcare, legal aid, and financial support that help women rebuild their lives.
Too often, poverty reduction and GBV interventions are treated as separate efforts, but they are deeply connected. Solving one without the other is like fixing a leak while ignoring the rising flood. Only by tackling both together can we break the cycle for good.
A call to action
Gender-based violence and poverty create a vicious cycle that traps countless women in silence and fear. Breaking it demands more than sympathy—it requires bold, collective action from governments, nonprofits, and individuals alike.
Araba’s story—and the stories of millions like her—don’t have to end in suffering. With the proper support, freedom is possible. Not sure where to start? Visit our Take Action page to raise your voice, spread awareness, and be part of the solution.
Isabella Ampofowaa Aduah is a seasoned writer, medical laboratory scientist, and women’s rights advocate. With a deep commitment to telling stories that matter, Isabella combines her scientific background with her love for the written word to create content that informs and inspires, encouraging others to live their dreams and reach their potential. As a women’s rights advocate, she is dedicated to amplifying the voices of marginalised groups and promoting equality. Beyond her work in writing and science, she is a virtual assistant, helping entrepreneurs and organisations streamline their tasks and thrive in a digital world.