The following article is part three of a four-week series focusing on raising awareness about domestic violence. October is Domestic Violence Awareness month and we hope to educate our community on this very serious issue. Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center has been serving victims of domestic and dating violence, sexual assault and child abuse since 1978. HCWC served 1,872 victims of abuse (face-to-face) from Hays and Caldwell County between October 1, 2015 and September 30, 2016–1,050 of those were victims of domestic violence.  

Financial Abuse in Relationships

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She drives a really nice car and always carries the latest designer handbag. From the outside it appears that she lives a pampered life, but what people don’t know is that there is no money in that designer handbag, because her husband doesn’t allow her access to their bank accounts.

Her neighbors are unaware that her husband checks the mileage on that really nice car to ensure that she didn’t go anywhere she wasn’t supposed to.

Most Americans have a clear idea of what intimate partner violence looks like to them. It’s Ray Rice punching his then fiancé, Janay in the face and dragging her unconscious body out of an elevator.

It is the woman hiding her black eye behind a pair of sunglasses. Many are unaware that financial control and abuse are significant parts of the complete definition of domestic violence.

Financial abuse is an umbrella term encompassing many different aspects of non-physical abuse.

It can include preventing a victim from accessing resources, interfering with the victim’s work, requiring the victim to deposit their paycheck into a joint account, but denying them access to the funds, stealing from the victim, defrauding the victim and ruining their credit.

A lack of financial independence is often just as effective in controlling a victim as a lock and key. Inability to access funds and resources leaves a victim trapped in a dangerous and unhealthy environment.

“I had no way to leave. I didn’t even have a debit card for our checking account where my paycheck was direct deposited. He bought the groceries and paid the bills and I couldn’t even buy a coke without asking him for money. I had this beautiful car, but he would yell and scream at me if I needed to put gas in the tank. From the outside, everything looked perfect, but our friends had no idea what went on behind closed doors.”

Financial abuse does not draw the same attention as physical abuse, but it is estimated to be even more prevalent. It is often an additional weapon in a batterer’s arsenal.  An abuser will use financial abuse to further isolate and control their partner.

Victims are sometimes forced to remain in abuse situations due to financial dependency.

While not all victims that suffer financial abuse are also victims of physical abuse, most victims in physically abusive relationships have experienced some sort of financial abuse. The common thread of power and control are woven through both types of abuse.

Victims in non-physically abusive relationships often struggle with identifying their situations as abusive. They feel that a lack of physical contact means their relationship, while controlling, is not dangerous or abusive. 

HCWC provides free, confidential services to victims of domestic violence whether the abuse they have suffered is physical, emotional, financial, or, as is often the case, all of the above. For more information on services, or to find out how you can help, contact the Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center at (512) 396-HELP (4357).

To support HCWC, consider one of several community efforts taking place this month for Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Enjoy a delicious meal at Lolita’s (10/24), Black’s BBQ (10/26), Erbert & Gerbert’s (10/27), Bailey’s Burgers (10/27) or order Purple cupcakes from Pennington’s through the end of October for our annual Dining for Change program.

A portion of proceeds will be donated back to HCWC. Or attend one of these fun community events:  Art Fundraiser at Dahlia Woods Gallery (10/22), 80’s Halloween Night at Stonewall Warehouse (10/25), Halloween Costume Contest at Aquabrew (10/28), Wimberley Wellness Festival at Katherine Anne Porter School (10/29), Run for the Americas (10/29) or Pumpkin Patch Fundraiser at First United Methodist Church through the end of the month.