This study analyzes women’s experiences of physical or sexual spousal violence as a
correlate of their employment. Based on the 2005–6 National Family Health Survey III, a
nationally representative dataset from India, the analysis illustrates that married women
who experienced spousal violence are more likely to be employed and are also more
likely to work for cash remuneration and be employed year-round. These results may
appear to suggest that spousal violence is associated with higher likelihood of married
women seeking financial self-reliance. However, investigation of who decides how to
spend the women’s earnings reveals that Indian women who experienced spousal
violence are less likely to have a say in that vital decision, which suggests that women
who experience spousal violence may also be more susceptible to financial exploitation.
The evidence further indicates a need for caution among analyses that uniformly embrace
employment as a financial empowerment tool for women.