Domestic Violence & Economic Abuse Increase as Economy Goes South

If you think domestic violence against women has been in the news a lot lately, it might be that the failing economy has something to do with it.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline conducted a survey from November 12 to December 31 last year asking 7,868 callers to the hot line about the connection between financial issues and the level of violence in their household:

"54% answered yes to the question, 'Has there been a change in your household's financial situation in the last year?'; and 64% also answered the second question affirmatively, which was, 'Do you believe the abusive behavior has increased in the past year?'"

These results suggest that there is a greater chance that the amount of violence in households will increase during times of financial crisis. While we tend to focus on the physical abuse in domestic violence cases, as the economy worsens, women need to be aware of economic abuse -- when the abuser uses someone's lack of financial independence to keep them trapped in an abusive relationship.

According to the Allstate Foundation Domestic Violence Program, economic abuse is a tactic used to control relationships and maintain power by preventing access to money and/or other financial resources.To combat economic abuse, the Allstate Foundation Domestic Violence Program has set up a website to provide resources, knowledge and skills to help victims. But they advocate the everyone should know the signs of economic abuse. Here are some examples:

"Controlling victims' paychecks and bank accounts, and determining how they spend money, where they work and what property they buy;

Using victims' credit cards without permission and destroying their credit rating;

Putting all financial contracts (lease, credit cards, utilities, etc) in a victim's name and then failing to make payments, destroying the victim's credit rating;

Forcing low-income victims or victims with disabilities to turn over government benefit payments;

Undermining victim's opportunities to become economically independent by not allowing the to work, forcing them to work in family businesses for little or no pay, or calling and harassing them in the workplace to such an extent that they lose their jobs;

Refusing to pay spousal or child support to a survivor who has left an abusive partner; and

Forcing a victim to cash in, sell, or sign over any financial assets or inheritance (e.g., bonds, stocks or property)."

As the financial squeeze in a household becomes tighter, some of these tactics may be used by companions. It is important to maintain control of your finances. Remember, securing your financial independence is a matter of survival.

Domestic Violence Myths and Facts

Myth: Women are the only victims of domestic violence.

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Fact: Although women make up the majority of victims of domestic violence, men are not to be excluded. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics Crime Data Brief, men account for approximately 15 of the victims of reported abuse by an intimate partner. Men often fail to report the abuse because they fear no one will believe them or take them seriously. Children are also victims. In a national survey, 50 percent of the men who frequently assaulted their wives also frequently abused their children.

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Myth: Domestic violence happens only in poor, uneducated, minority households.

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Fact: There is no "typical victim" of domestic violence. It happens in ALL families and relationships. Regardless of age, class, religion, marital status or gender, anyone can be a victim of domestic violence. However, some statistics show that "minority" communities have higher rates of domestic violence. Approximately one in four women are victims of abuse.

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Myth: Domestic violence is only physical abuse.

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Fact: Domestic violence can come in the form of physical, emotional, psychological, and/or sexual abuse. According to Verbalabuse.com, name-calling is abusive because it says that you are BLANK, instead of a person. Batterers define their mates as objects. It isn't healthy to be in the same room with a person who defines you, and it is harmful to children who witness it. Physical abuse often begins with and is accompanied by verbal battering.

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Myth: If a woman doesn't leave, it must not be so bad.

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Fact: Leaving an abusive relationship is easier said than done. Women stay in abusive relationships for many reasons. The victim may:
-Be afraid of what the abuser may do if he finds out
-Have financial dependency on the abuser
-Be in love with the abuser
-Believe the abuse is her fault
-Have no other place to live
-Stay for the 'sake of the children'; the idea being that two parents are better than one.

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Myth: Women who are abused often provoke it.

Fact: Abuse is often learned -- more than half of children who witness abuse will go on to be abusers -- and an abuser chooses to abuse. No one deserves to be abused and the abuser is the only one to blame.