skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Monday, December 4, 2023

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

NH gun-safety advocates advise services, bipartisan laws after deadly shootings; Food banks, pantries address rising food insecurity during winter holidays; Despite cost debate, some MN businesses intrigued by paid-leave law.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Muslim American leaders in swing states like Michigan threaten to Abandon Biden, VP Harris criticizes greenwashing at COP28, former congresswoman Cheney calls the GOP a "threat," and George Santos is expelled.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Congress has iced the Farm Bill, but farmer advocates argue some portions are urgent, the Hoosier State is reaping big rewards from wind and solar, and opponents react to a road through Alaska's Brooks Range, long a dream destination for hunters and anglers.

Study: Abusers Control Their Partners Through the Pocketbook

play audio
Play

Tuesday, July 7, 2009   

PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. - While most Americans know people who are, or have been, victims of domestic abuse, we don't always see a connection between domestic abuse and "economic abuse," according to a new study by the Allstate Foundation. But experts say that if your partner refuses to let you get a job, racks up debt without your knowledge, or controls all the household money, it is a warning sign of economic abuse, and it is a form of domestic abuse.

Katherine Campbell, a member of the National Association of Social Workers who is in private practice, says couples do argue about money sometimes. That's normal: the thing to watch out for is one partner trying to use the pocketbook to control the other.

"It's not always about the punch in the face; domestic violence is also about the way the abuser controls the person being abused, and finances is a big way abusers control their victims."

With so many Florida families fighting off foreclosure and struggling to stay afloat financially, Campbell says calls to shelters are up, and moving into an apartment requires more money than many women have.

"To leave an abusive relationship you have to have the tools to do so, and that's a lot of money they may not be able to get together, especially if their abuser is controlling the money."

Campbell says you don't have to be beaten to be a victim of domestic abuse, and if you are in an abusive relationship where your partner is controlling you financially, you should seek help. She says the good news is there is a way out, and social workers can help.

"Domestic violence is not something anybody deserves. Social workers can help women see when a situation moves from arguing to abusive, then assist them in developing ways they can stay safe."

A poll found that nearly half the respondents said that one of the biggest barriers to getting out of abusive relationships is lack of financial security. Most people believe these tough economic times have made things tougher for victims, and Campbell says economic downturns increase both the severity and the frequency of all kinds of abuse.

The Allstate Foundation has developed an on-line program to help victims achieve financial independence at
www.clicktoempower.org and the National Association of Social Workers has a Web site at www.helpstartshere.org


get more stories like this via email

more stories
According to data by SCORE, 75% of small business owners donate an average of 6% of their profits to charitable organizations each year. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

Small Business Saturday has come and gone and the North Carolina Sustainable Business Council urged people to keep "shopping local" this season…


Social Issues

play sound

Gun-safety advocates in New Hampshire are urging Gov. Chris Sununu to back policies proven to reduce gun violence following a series of deadly …

Social Issues

play sound

A new report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau found the repayment process for federal student loans has been filled with errors…


Minnesota's new paid leave law, scheduled to take effect in 2026, will distribute benefits through a state-operated insurance pool funded by employers and employees. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

Minnesota is two years away from enacting its new paid leave law and while the debate over costs has resurfaced, some in the small business community …

Social Issues

play sound

A lawsuit challenging Wisconsin's collective near-total bargaining ban for most public workers is by some seen as a way to bolster the state's beleagu…

The Environmental Protection Agency is working on rules that will incentivize the transition to heavy-duty electric vehicles. (VanderWolf Images/Adobestock)

play sound

As the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai wraps up, Democratic lawmakers and clean-air advocates are calling on the Environmental …

Environment

play sound

NASA-funded research using satellites to study atmospheric nitrogen will examine how different farming approaches affect greenhouse gas emissions…

play sound

The American Gas Association misled the public on the health effects of burning gas for decades. Now, a coalition wants the Washington State …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021