Domestic violence is not just a problem in other countries far beyond the shores of the US. It is a very real and insidious problem that is occurring right under our noses and occurs across all socio-economic, ethnic, educational and religious groups.
The number of US women that were murdered by their partners between 2001 and 2012 is 11,766. This is almost twice as many American Troops that were killed in Afghanistan and Iraq during the same period. This is not a ‘domestic’ issue that we can just ignore. It is a national problem that is not going away anytime soon. The facts and figures are sobering!
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3
women are murdered each day in the USA by a current or ex male partner.
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4,774,000
women experience physical violence by an intimate partner each year in the USA.
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1
in 4 women will be victims of domestic violence in their lifetimes.
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Women
lose 8,000,000 days of paid work each year as a result of the abuse.
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10,000,000
children are witnesses to domestic violence each year.
Many people
wonder “Why does she stay?” “Why doesn’t she just take the kids and leave?” “If
it was that bad she would have left a long time ago!”
Domestic
violence is often associated with physical and emotional abuse. However, there is another ambiguous form of
abuse that plays a key role in preventing a woman from leaving. It is financial abuse! This is a common tactic used by the abusers
to gain power and control over their partners.
The decision to stay has nothing to do with having a choice to decide at
all. It is the lack of power that
prevents the women from leaving.
Financial
abuse is a very powerful way of keeping someone trapped in a relationship.
Research has shown that financial abuse is experienced in as high as 98% of
abusive relationships, and it is the victim’s concern over their inability to
become financially independent and provide for themselves and their children,
that has them staying or returning to an abusive situation.
As is the
case with other forms of domestic abuse, financial abuse progresses over time.
Initially the abuser may start to take advantage in a very subtle way, even
appearing as loving and charming and claiming to only have the victim’s best
interests at heart. For example, in seeing that the victim is under a lot of
stress, the abuser may suggest they lighten the burden by taking care of the
finances and giving whatever is needed each week. Over time, the amount given becomes less and
less and by the time the victim decides to take back control over the finances,
it is too late.
Here are
some examples of financial abusive behavior that includes controlling the
finances, sabotaging employment, theft and unpredictability:
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Giving
you an allowance.
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Putting
your paycheck into their bank account and not allowing you access to this
account.
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Spending
money on themselves and not allowing you to do the same.
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Hiding
car keys to prevent you from going to work.
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Forbidding
you to work, or limiting your hours.
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Getting
you fired by harassing you at work and disrupting your duties.
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Stealing
your key resources.
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Using
your Social Security Number to obtain credit without your permission.
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Using
a joint savings account without your knowledge.
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Maxing
out credit cards without your permission.
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Offering
resources in an unpredictable and inconsistent way, causing the victim a lot of
stress as they have no idea if they are getting money for food, medicine or
clothing.
Financial
abuse is usually coupled with physical and emotional abuse. Anyone that is in an abusive relationship is
deprived of power and this can make it extremely difficult to leave.
The
POWERHOUSE Program is designed to build self-esteem, confidence and courage in
girls and women in order for them to reach their full potential. According to Abraham Maslow’s pyramid of
human needs, safety is a key part in our development, and comes second to our
physiological needs. Feeling safe and
secure can help you feel empowered to gain the financial security needed to
escape an abusive relationship. Additionally, the POWERHOUSE Program is an
education in prevention and avoidance. Learning how to identify potentially
harmful behavior, the warning signs, from the start is key to preventing
someone becoming a victim of domestic violence.
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