According to the SMH, the heartbreaking finding was based on surveys done by the Australian Bureau of Statistics over more than a decade, also revealing that as soon as women earn more than half a couple’s income they 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.
While the study was done in Australia, researchers Robert Breunig and institute fellow Yinjunjie Zhang found 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.
"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, believing that 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'.
"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."
The study unfortunately adds to a plethora of evidence proving that misogyny well-and-truly exists across Australia.
"Australia is particularly misogynist and has very clear toxic masculinity and that's an issue this research highlights," Chair of Wesnet and chief executive of the Annie North Women's Refuge in Victoria, Julie Oberin, 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."
Support Services
If you are in immediate danger, call 000 for Police and Ambulance help. 1800RESPECT or 1800 737 732 is 24-hour national sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line for any Australian who has experienced, or is at risk of, family and domestic violence and/or sexual assault.
