Woman working in front of desktop. (Courtesy).

Some South Sudanese men do not allow their wives to work over negative imaginations and trust issues, sources told Eye Radio, adding that even if the husbands do, it is on condition that they take full control over their income.

Those who spoke in a series of interviews said financial abuse is rarely talked about in South Sudan, emphasizing that it is a very serious form of abuse and one of the six pillars of Gender Based Violence.

The people in this story, mainly females, narrated the challenges facing women trying to attain financial independence from their spouses or male relatives.

Ave John, a 48-year-old tea seller in Mamur Market of Juba, said it is important that women work and earn income to sustain their families and avoid overreliance on men.

She also condemned the denial of women’s rights to inheritance and ownership of properties.

“I reject the idea of a man encroaching on his wife’s property, including her salary, lands, or anything related to her. Men think because they have paid dowry, any money earned by their wives belongs to them,” she said.

“For us as women to avoid such abuse, we need to depend on ourselves, not our fathers or brothers, who forced us into marriage so they can get the dowry. We have a life to live on our own.”

Harmful gender norms as a result of a patriarchal culture have left women in South Sudan marginalized and even excluded from participating at any level of decision-making, according to a report.

The assessment by Concern Worldwide said women have few decision-making powers within the household or land ownership rights, especially in rural areas of the country.

“They also lack access to water and livestock, as well as loans. The lack of resource ownership and land rights is at the heart of power imbalances between men and women.”

Regardless of this, women are largely responsible for most of their family’s unpaid and domestic labor and those who have time to devote to farming or an alternative livelihood see low returns on that investment, it added.

Estella John, a tailor at Buaba Market, said some men fear letting women pursue their careers and earn income because, in her opinion, if they become independent, they may not be submissive.

The 29-year-old businesswoman believes women should not be made to sit at home, adding that allowing them to work is important for the family’s financial welfare.

“Some men fear women’s work because they believe that when a woman is exploited financially, she becomes difficult to manage and does not submit to men,” she said.

“As long as I was working before marriage, I would not accept sitting and relying on my husband to support me financially. Why don’t men trust themselves by counting on us?”

Ms. Stella said South Sudan men’s financial dominance and manipulation of women will not remain forever, adding that “there are different generations of women growing up. We know our rights that are asserted by the law.”

Betty Keji, another tea seller at Gudele One Market, said took over responsibility of the family after her husband was put in prison.

Citing an example of one of her friends, Keji said many men have wrong imaginations about allowing their women to work.

“A husband to one of the girls we used to work refused her a chance to work in the market for fear that she will be morally corrupt, and she was forced to stop working and sit at home.”

She said women who try to defy their husbands’ orders are often threatened with divorce or reported to their bosses at workplace for them to be fired.

“We are not in the street looking for men. We are in the street looking for a job, and we can’t stay at home begging men to give us money to pay for things.”

On his part, James Adris, a 49-year-old restaurant owner in Gudele One said men are also victims of financial abuse.

“You often find that a woman misusing her husband’s savings or asking him for things he cannot meet due to limited income,” he said.

Adris further said another economic violence suffered by men is financial exploitation by the extended family.

“You find that the house is full of relatives, and you have to spend on all of them, which affects the needs of your small family.”

According to an activist, financial abuse can take many forms including controlling finances, sabotaging employment, stealing or withholding money, ruining credit also and forcing financial dependence.

Gima Robert Kani, Executive Director of Road to Development Organization (REDO), the problem can lead to exploitation against women as the husbands sabotage their financial power.

“The abuser may sabotage your income or your access to money. How does he or she do that to you? For example, they will prevent you from being educated or from employment. Sometimes they will limit your work hours,” he said.

“They make you ask for money or help anytime. They check if you went to market, they check your receipts. They want to know everything that you bought today, and how you used your money today.”

Mr. Kani said even in workplaces, the supervisors of female employees deny them access to their benefits.

“So sometimes they refuse you to claim your benefit. Even in workplaces, it happens. You work, but your boss, or HR, refuse you to get your benefits. You are not entitled. They refuse your entitlement.”

According to Kani, most forms of economic violence arise between partners, people who live in the same family or extended family members.

“They control when and how money is spent, when you should spend money and how you should spend it.”

“It is the right or the responsibility of the person in charge. This is the abuser. They dictate what you should buy. Don’t buy this. You’re not supposed to do this.”

“They can also exploit your economic situation. Whatever you have today, the husband is the one to serve, to dictate, to control that money. You got this much today. Bring it here. Put this one and this one is my share for me.”

The advocate encouraging victims of financial abuse to report the issue to the Gender Based Violence Court in Juba to provide legal intervention.

“For you to overcome a financially abusive relationship, it is up to the victim to take the first step by saying enough is enough. Tell the husband, we need to discuss about this. I cannot continue living under this stress, under these conditions.”

“Open a case. There is a specialized court, and in that court, you will get justice. When you have made up your mind, you need to get justice.”