What is the ruling on a wife changing her appearance and shaving the sides of her hair to resemble a man, so that she can deal safely with men and avoid being raped, due to her disabled husband's inability to work and their significant debt?

A woman's resemblance to men is forbidden and a major sin, based on the hadith: "Allah has cursed women who imitate men." Therefore, it is impermissible for a woman to work in a field that requires such imitation, and neither her husband's inability nor her need to work justifies committing this act. If she is compelled to work and cannot find a field free of sharia prohibitions, she is permitted to work while adhering to sharia guidelines, such as maintaining modesty and refraining from mingling with men, in accordance with the Almighty's saying: "So fear Allah as much as you are able." If she becomes independent of this work, she must abandon it.