Domestic violence is one of the most common social maladies in the country. However, discussions about the problem are becoming less and less frequent.
A recent survey found that 62 percent of Americans believe domestic violence is a serious concern. Further, 34 percent feel like it isn’t acceptable to discuss in public. That’s an increase of 10 percent since the last poll was taken in 2014.
Experts believe that the only way to impact domestic violence rates is to promote awareness of the problem. That theory has been borne out by the social changes that have been in motion regarding sexual harassment ever since the #MeToo movement began.
More than one out of two respondents to the survey indicated that they either had been victimized by domestic violence themselves or knew someone who was. Financial abuse, however, was more significant than physical violence for many.
It’s impossible to overstate how serious financial abuse is and the role that it plays in domestic violence. Domestic violence is largely about control — and abusers who control their victim’s financial lives control just about everything. Victims of financial abuse may not even have the ability to call an Uber to get away from their situation.
Victims may be so financially isolated that they don’t have access to any funds at all. In some cases, abusers may even take away a victim’s identification in order to make it impossible for the victim to do something like access a bank account or get welfare benefits if the victim tries to leave.
If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, an attorney who has experience in the area can help overcome the hurdles that go along with financial and physical abuse.