Data Shows Female Academics in Israel Also Face Domestic Abuse and Financial Dependence
Data from the Ruach Nashit association reveals that female academics in Israel also suffer from domestic abuse and financial dependence, amid a new bill permitting gender-segregated degrees.
Against the backdrop of the approval of a bill permitting gender-segregated study tracks for men and women in advanced degrees, data from the "Ruach Nashit" association—which assists victims of abuse in achieving financial independence—show that even female academics can fall victim to violence and financial dependence.
Financial Vulnerability Among Academics
In the first half of 2026, about 30% of women who completed a program to improve financial resilience held a bachelor's or master's degree. In central Israel, the rate of women with academic education or currently studying exceeded the 40% threshold. This means that more than four out of every ten women in the center were either academically educated or in the process of acquiring it, yet still required a financial strengthening process following the abuse they experienced.
"The advancement of women is measured not only by entry into academia, but by the ability to translate education into freedom of choice, opportunities, and financial independence," says Ophira Ben-Shalom, CEO of the association.
The Debate Over Gender Segregation
The bill's initiator, MK Limor Son Har-Melech, argued that the law "will promote women from sectors that until today have not received proper advancement." Supporters present segregation as a tool to remove barriers and expand accessibility to higher education for men and women who previously refrained from advanced studies due to religious and lifestyle reasons. Conversely, figures in academia, the opposition, and civil society warn of a potential blow to equality, women's status, academic freedom, and women's employment and advancement opportunities.
Data from "Ruach Nashit" for 2025 further show that in central Israel, about 46% of program graduates held academic education, including bachelor's, master's, and higher degrees. Almost half of the women in the central region who participated in the process were academics, yet they still struggled with the economic and occupational consequences of abuse.
Ben-Shalom added:
"The debate over gender segregation in academia is sometimes presented as a clash between accessibility and equality, but the data adds another layer: the mere entry of a woman into the higher education system is not the end of the road. Even women who have already acquired an education, a profession, and status can find themselves in an abusive relationship and under financial control."
