Towers, Judith (2013) Economic Inequality and Intimate Partner Violence against Women : An Analysis of the British Crime Survey 2008/09. PhD thesis, Lancaster University.
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Abstract
This thesis examines how economic inequality is associated with intimate partner violence against women. It finds working-age women in England and Wales with fewer economic resources are more likely to experience intimate partner violence compared to women with comparatively greater economic resources. In this thesis economic inequality is conceived as the disparity in economic resources across a population. This therefore links the empirical findings to the wider concept. Thus it is concluded that economic inequality is associated with increased likelihood of intimate partner violence against women. The thesis extends previous work on this question by considering a greater range of resources, in conjunction with one another, across three units of analysis (individual, household and neighbourhood). It also specifically examines how economic inequality is related to remaining in, and exiting from, violent relationships for women from the same population. Analysis is conducted on a representative sample of 12,920 working-age women in the British Crime Survey 2008/09. The process of critically analysing the choice of data source and measure of intimate partner violence is essential. It ensures that the empirical findings are robust and that conclusions drawn are framed by the strengths, but also any limitations, of these choices. Not all economic resources are of equal importance in association with intimate partner violence. Housing tenure is found to be the most important. Women's occupational status appears to be more significant than current employment status. Women's earned income is important in relation to exiting a recently violent relationship, but this connection is highly complex. Considering economic resources across three units of analysis enabled the links between them to be explored. This reveals the importance of household, compared to individual and neighbourhood, economic resources. Women's household structure is thus demonstrated to be a key link between economic inequality and intimate partner violence against women.