Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) can manifest in various forms: physical, psychological,sexual, and economic. In particular, economic violence can mark the onset of other forms ofviolence, from which the victim may find it increasingly difficult to escape. A context ofinequalities, whether overt or subtle, in fact enables such violence by reducing thecapabilities and agency of specific groups compared to others. Theoretical approachesfocusing on access to resources and the inherent dependence highlight that asymmetriesbetween partners could set the conditions for violence to occur, fuelled by power imbalancesoperating at both micro and macro levels, among other factors largely through gender-baseddifferentiations. But in the absence of gender differentiation as an organizing principle ofthe intimate relationship, how are patterns of asymmetry and dynamics of dependencestructured within same-sex couples?The study applies a gendered and intersectional approach to the analysis of the conditions ofeconomic dependence and vulnerability, in order to prepare the way to a further analysis oftheir impact across various domains, and outlines potential risk factors and their differentmanifestations according to gender and sexual orientation. Socio-demographic andeconomic indicators, including age, citizenship, education, employment, and propertyregime, are compared here, in order to explore asymmetries that may constitute potentialrisk factors of IPV and especially economic violence. The study uses a descriptive approachbased on ISTAT data on marriages and civil partnerships (2019–2023).The approach presented here is applicable across gender categories and able to highlight thespecific outcomes for each group. In particular for LGBT+ people, who are exposed tospecific gender-based violence that can foster conditions of vulnerability, increasing the riskof dependence on a partner, and creating a vicious cycle that is often difficult to detect beforeit escalates into violence.
Economic dependence and vulnerability: an intersectional perspective on risk factors for people in same-sex relationships
Patimo, Raffaella
2025-01-01
Abstract
Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) can manifest in various forms: physical, psychological,sexual, and economic. In particular, economic violence can mark the onset of other forms ofviolence, from which the victim may find it increasingly difficult to escape. A context ofinequalities, whether overt or subtle, in fact enables such violence by reducing thecapabilities and agency of specific groups compared to others. Theoretical approachesfocusing on access to resources and the inherent dependence highlight that asymmetriesbetween partners could set the conditions for violence to occur, fuelled by power imbalancesoperating at both micro and macro levels, among other factors largely through gender-baseddifferentiations. But in the absence of gender differentiation as an organizing principle ofthe intimate relationship, how are patterns of asymmetry and dynamics of dependencestructured within same-sex couples?The study applies a gendered and intersectional approach to the analysis of the conditions ofeconomic dependence and vulnerability, in order to prepare the way to a further analysis oftheir impact across various domains, and outlines potential risk factors and their differentmanifestations according to gender and sexual orientation. Socio-demographic andeconomic indicators, including age, citizenship, education, employment, and propertyregime, are compared here, in order to explore asymmetries that may constitute potentialrisk factors of IPV and especially economic violence. The study uses a descriptive approachbased on ISTAT data on marriages and civil partnerships (2019–2023).The approach presented here is applicable across gender categories and able to highlight thespecific outcomes for each group. In particular for LGBT+ people, who are exposed tospecific gender-based violence that can foster conditions of vulnerability, increasing the riskof dependence on a partner, and creating a vicious cycle that is often difficult to detect beforeit escalates into violence.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
