Cynthia K. Sanders

Economic Education for Battered Women: An Evaluation of Outcomes

Economic education programs that are intended to improve financial literacy have gained significant attention in recent years as one strategy for promoting social and economic development, especially among poor and disadvantaged groups. The aims of such programs are to increase awareness of financial choices, opportunities, and consequences. The role that poverty and financial matters play in intimate partner violence has also received increasing attention among advocates for victims of domestic violence. This study examined the financial literacy outcomes of an economic education program that was created specifically for battered women using a quasi-experimental design. The findings indicate limited gains in financial knowledge and significant improvements in financial self-efficacy and highlight the need for further research.

Development and Preliminary Psychometric Evaluation of the Domestic Violence-Related Financial Issues Scale (DV-FI)

Intimate partner violence (IPV) occurs at disproportionate rates within impoverished groups of women and can include economic abuse as a form of psychological maltreatment. The current study developed a comprehensive assessment of the unique financial issues facing female victims of IPV using a sheltered sample (N = 113). An exploratory factor analysis (principal-axis factoring with varimax rotation) was conducted on 24 items of the newly developed Domestic Violence—Related Financial Issues Scale. Preliminary results supported five extracted factors, which accounted for approximately 53% of the total common variance in the womens responses. Psychometric properties of the instrument are presented.

Economic Abuse in the Lives of Women Abused by an Intimate Partner: A Qualitative Study

This article presents qualitative findings of a study that examined the role of financial issues and economic factors in the lives of women who have experienced intimate partner violence (IPV). Eight themes emerged in discussions with women about the ways in which money and economic issues played a role in their experiences of abuse. Taken together, women’s discussions clearly support an “economic abuse” dimension of IPV. Implications for safely advancing the economic well-being of low-income survivors are discussed.

Savings for Survivors: An Individual Development Account Program for Survivors of Intimate-Partner Violence

ABSTRACT Survivors of domestic violence often remain in abusive relationships due to limited economic resources, economic dependence on an abusive partner, and economic abuse. Viewing women who have experienced domestic violence as “survivors” suggests that when provided access to appropriate resources, they will seek help and utilize such resources allowing them to increase their stability and potentially escape an abusive partner. Assets have been shown to have a variety of positive associations with a wide range of economic, social, and psychological outcomes. Economic initiatives, such as financial education and individual development accounts (IDAs), aimed toward survivors of domestic violence are on the rise. However, to date, there are few studies. Data on IDA activity, including savings rates, withdrawals, and asset purchases, for 125 women who participated in an IDA matched-savings program for survivors of intimate-partner violence were examined. Approximately 2/3 of women reached their savings goal and 76% made at least 1 matched-savings withdrawal and asset purchase. Results suggest survivors can be successful savers and purchase assets that may contribute to their economic stability. Implications are discussed, including the need for long-term studies to examine how participation in a matched-savings program affects womens well-being, safety, and future experiences of intimate-partner violence.

Mortgage Lending and Gender

This article analyzes 1992 data from the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act for the city and county of St. Louis, MO. The primary hypothesis was that controlling for relevant factors, women would be more likely than men to be denied home loans. The findings contradict the hypothesis and suggest that men are slightly more likely than women to be denied conventional mortgage loans. However, the study also found that women with male coapplicants are more likely than women who apply independently to be denied these loans.

Promoting Financial Capability of Incarcerated Women for Community Reentry: A Call to Social Workers

ABSTRACT Female incarceration rates are increasing at unprecedented rates. The majority of women are poor single mothers, serving sentences for nonviolent drug-related and property offenses. Among challenges faced when transitioning back into society are a history of interpersonal violence and financial instability. This study examines literature with regard to the barriers women experience with an emphasis on financial struggles and explores outcomes of one initiative to begin addressing the financial capability of women in a minimum security prison. Findings reveal women benefited from the class experience. Social workers are called upon for additional financial capability programming and research in this area.