Silent Providers: Psychological Abuse and Coercive Control Among Female Breadwinners in Intimate Partner Relationships

Background: Personal income is considered a strong deterrent against partner violence. But, spouse abuse is not deterred by income when the wife is the primary income earner. Partner pressure and partner interference are reported to be more prevalent among primary female breadwinner spouses than among spouses with equal incomes or in traditional marriages. The wife's paycheck may generate hostility, not appreciation. This article attempts to explain why. It applies the gendered resource theory, the male backlash effect, and the concept of coercive control to understand how increased earnings may trigger control in lieu of preventing it. Methodology: A narrative review of the literature was conducted on the topic of relative income, financial abuse, and relationship dynamics. Only peer-reviewed published studies were included in the review. Female breadwinners experience abuse that leaves no visible scars. It still poses risks to their psychological well-being and careers. As high earners, they are not the type of women the victim services model was designed for, women whose financial lives are intertwined with those of their intimate partners. EHS professionals, clinicians, and human resources executives need to start treating psychological and financial abuse as an authentic occupational and public health problem.