Domestic violence comes in many forms, but one of the least-recognized types is financial abuse. Nearly all domestic violence survivors have experienced this “invisible weapon” — and about three out of four say they stayed with their abusive partners longer because of it.* Simply put, financial abuse happens when abusers control, manipulate, or intimidate their partner using money as leverage. That could mean taking paychecks, keeping them from working, racking up debt in their partner’s name, and so much more
To shine a light on this form of abuse, The Allstate Foundation, which has invested more than $85 million to disrupt the cycle and prevalence of relationship abuse, Hello Sunshine, and Vox Creative have teamed up to share stories of three financial abuse survivors. The common theme: each survivor dedicates thanks to a friend or family member who stepped in to help. Here, you can hear their stories, find resources for those impacted by financial abuse, and get tips for supporting a loved one. We all have the chance to help stop financial abuse — and the first step is learning what it looks like.
*Source: The Nation, “Truth About Abuse Survey Report,” 2012