Domestic Violence Risk Increases 35% When A Woman Earns More Than Her Male Partner

A shocking new Australian study has found a woman's chance of being subjected to domestic violence by her male partner can increase up to 35 per cent if she earns more money than him.

According to the SMH, in surveys done by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, it was found once a woman started earning more than half a couple's income, she was also likely to face a 20 per cent increase in the chance of suffering from emotional abuse.

The risk increases as the woman earns more of the couple's combined income.

Researchers Robert Breunig and institute fellow Yinjunjie Zhang found during the decade-long study that no matter what age, income or country a woman came from, if she earned more than her male counterpart it still marked a substantial increase in the risk of domestic violence.

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"As women's share of household income increases, but remains below one-half, there is no change in the experience of physical and emotional abuse," they found.

Researchers believe this was due to males having issues with not being the family unit's main breadwinner.

"Only when the gender norm is violated do we see an increase in the incidence of physical violence and emotional abuse," they continued.

"The gender norm story is a strong one that seems to operate consistently across a wide range of demographic characteristics."

When observing the opposite side of the spectrum, the study found that there was 'no increase in violence or emotional abuse against men'.

Breunig and Zheng warned these results meant the government needed to carefully examine how to handle programs designed to deal with partner abuse against women.

"Simply increasing women's economic power may not be effective in reducing violence against women and government may need to try and influence cultural change," they said.

"Many economists are uncomfortable with the idea of government trying to alter preferences.

"However, thinking about how to design child care policy, parental leave policy and family payments policy to allow gender norms to evolve alongside greater gender equality in work and income seems like a clear policy direction."

Chair of Wesnet and chief executive of the Annie North Women's Refuge in Victoria, Julie Oberin, commented that the groundbreaking research was further evidence to prove the issue of misogyny across Australia.

"Australia is particularly misogynist and has very clear toxic masculinity and that's an issue this research highlights," she said.

"The role of the male breadwinner is so central to masculinity in this country that when it is challenged you end up in this situation."

Topics: Domestic violence, Australia

Jessica Lynch

@jesskalynch