What is the Effect of Women's Financial Empowerment on Intimate Partner Violence in Jordan?

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a prevalent and dangerous problem that women worldwide face, which can impact their emotional and physical health. It has been considered the most persistent human right violation in the world. In Jordan, approximately one out of three women has experienced IPV during their marriage. Given the prevalence and danger of IPV and the need to understand risk and protective factors, this study investigated the effect of women's financial empowerment on intimate partner violence for ever-married women in Jordan using data from the 2007 Jordan Population and Family Health Survey (JPFHS). The results of this analysis demonstrated that not having financial empowerment could lead to an increase of probability of experiencing intimate partner violence for non-empowered women in Jordan. The women who participate in financial decision-making regarding either the income they earn, or the income their partners earn, have a decreased probability of ever experiencing any type of IPV. We suggest that policies promoting positive images of women participating in household decision-making processes or educational programs that include interventions for women to learn the positive aspects of empowerment can be successful to aid in decreasing the levels of intimate partner violence in Jordan.