The overlooked form of domestic violence affecting millions

Domestic violence is often thought of as physical and/or emotional abuse exclusively. But domestic violence takes many forms, including one less familiar: financial abuse. 78% of Americans don’t recognize financial abuse as a form of domestic violence, despite it being the number one reason survivors stay in abusive situations. Financial abuse is also incredibly prevalent in domestic violence cases, with some studies estimating that it occurs in nearly 99% of abusive relationships.

“If you think about the fact that it wasn’t until the early seventies when a woman could even get a credit card on her own, it really sets a stage for what we see played out in relationships across the country. The lack of autonomy, the lack of agency that a lot of people have in relationships is so normalized,” says Sharisse Kimbro, Program Officer at The Allstate Foundation. It’s an issue that also disproportionately affects LGBTQ+, BIPOC, immigrant, and disabled communities.

Broadly speaking, financial abuse occurs when someone manipulates their partner by controlling their finances. But it can take many forms, from racking up credit card debt in someone’s name, to destroying personal property, to forcing someone to ask for an “allowance” or taking sole control of household finances. One of the most prevalent forms of financial abuse is interfering with someone’s ability to work. Survivor Neisha Himes recalled, “When we first met, I was working at the law firm, and when we would argue or we were in a bad place, he would call my job incessantly over and over and over… now I’m getting in trouble. Now I’m too busy arguing with him on the phone instead of calling back this client or finishing this file.”

By raising awareness about financial abuse, and supporting survivors, we can all make a difference in ending this invisible issue. Sonya Passi, CEO of FreeFrom, a nonprofit dedicated to helping survivors of domestic violence thrives, notes the importance of cash assistance. “Even a small amount can make a huge difference to someone’s safety,” she says. Support goes beyond cash assistance, too: “Ask the survivor what they need to feel supported, and what they need to stay safe. Because survivors know what’s best for themselves, but also there are some practical things you can consider, like holding money safe for a survivor, offering them transportation to work if necessary,” says Kimbro.

To help raise awareness about this important issue, Vox, The Allstate Foundation, and Hello Sunshine dove into the prevalence, importance, and impact of financial abuse.

You can take action by sharing this video, donating to an organization like FreeFrom that provides cash assistance to survivors, or visiting the National Domestic Violence Hotline for support for yourself or someone you know. By shining a light on this invisible issue, we all have the power to end financial abuse.