Domestic violence is not something that is a new term to most people. Something that may be though is financial abuse. I am fully aware of this term as it is something that I have seen in my own life. Thanks to Allstate, it is my hope that everyone will soon know what financial abuse is and how to recognize it as well as help women in that situation.
This post is part of a sponsored campaign with The Allstate Foundation and MomSelect. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Let’s start with some facts…
- Domestic violence affects one in four women in her lifetime – that’s more women than breast cancer, ovarian cancer and lung cancer combined.
- Financial abuse happens in 98% of all cases of domestic violence and is one of the most powerful ways to keep a victim trapped.
- The number one reason domestic violence survivors stay, leave or return to an abusive relationship is that they don’t have the financial resources to break free.
- Two-thirds of Americans believe that domestic violence is a serious problem, yet just over 1 in 3 have ever talked about it.
- Financial abuse is just as effective in controlling an abused victim as a lock and key. If her credit has been ruined, she can’t get an apartment. If her abuser constantly harasses her at work, she can lose her job. And, crushing debt run up by an abuser means it could take a survivor and her children years to fully recover from abuse.
Now let’s talk about Allstate’s Purple Purse campaign. Please, if you read nothing else on this blog, read this.
Allstate wants to make domestic violence and financial abuse something that is in the forefront of people’s minds. They want it to be something that is talked about and people work together to make these sad, scary situations better. You can help ensure domestic violence survivors, maybe even someone you know, aren’t financially trapped in an abusive relationship by joining the Purple Purse Challenge. How? You can open your heart and your wallet to stand up for survivors and the organizations that serve them at PurplePurse.com.
The Allstate Foundation is investing more than half a million dollars in the Purple Purse Challenge. The more donations each nonprofit gets, the more it can compete for Allstate Foundation incentive funding. You can help an organization in your own area by going to PurplePurse.com between now and October 3rd and making a donation.
“Kerry Washington, Emmy-nominated actress and domestic violence activist, is serving as a Purple Purse ambassador to help raise awareness for the cause and has designed a limited-edition purple purse. The purse was created to represent the center of a woman’s financial domain and to inspire women to reclaim their financial independence.”
To turn any purse into a Purple Purse, The Allstate Foundation is widely distributing Purple Purse charms so you can show your support and attach to your favorite bag year round. They are being distributed with inspiring survivor stories through Purple Purse Challenge participants and Allstate agency owners. I can’t wait to add one of these Purple Purse charms to my own purse to show my support for all those that are dealing with financial abuse.
This is not a new cause for Allstate. Since 2005, The Allstate Foundation has invested more than $40 million across the country to help domestic violence survivors regain control of their finances and break free from abuse. I would like to thank them for their dedication to helping women break free of those that keep them a “prisoner” to finances.
Living with domestic violence because of finances should not happen! Feeling trapped because of money, or lack of rather, is something that no women should ever have to deal with.
If you or someone you know needs immediate help, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or TTY 1-800-787-3224.
Will you be adding a Purple Purse charm to your bag? What do you think of this cause/campaign?
This is definitely for a good cause and awareness.
What a great campaign – I would definitely add a purple chain to my handbag. x
The statistics are awful. Kudos to Allstate. That’s a lot of effort, time, and money they are investing.
Wow a side to domestic violence that is not often talked about but so true! What a great idea! I will definitely be checking this out! Thank you for sharing this with all of us!
This campaign is amazing! No one will ever understand why a woman in that situation would stay until he/she becomes that person.
With many family members who’ve been victims, I really like this challenge.
Great campaign and I love the purse, purple is my fave color.
It is a great campaign. I can never understand why women stay in abusive relationships. But I do understand that their abusers are really sly and manipulative
This post gave me chills. It’s so important to help people out of domestic abuse situations. What a horrible thing to go through – feeling trapped because you have no money to get out. Definitely will be helping out!!
Thank you for sharing
This is truly a fantastic campaign. I’ve been there, done that with both domestic violence and financial abuse, as they tend to go hand in hand. It was one of the worst times in my life.
This is a fantastic campaign and it’s great that they’re raising awareness of both domestic violence and financial abuse, which I’m sure most people haven’t heard much about.
I think it is great to bring awareness in any way to causes like this… It would be nice if this message could somehow be sent to school aged kids..
I do love this campaign. I would like to participate! Love the purple.
Loving this campaign to help empower women financially.
What a great campaign. Sadly, I know someone who could benefit from this program.
I think this is an awesome campaign and I will be adding a purple charm to my purse as soon as I can find an agency that carries them.
I think this is an awesome campaign. I have honestly never heard of it. Thank you for creating awareness.
Allstate pushing this campaign is going to help so many victims. I think its awesome!
I’m so happy Allstate is helping bring more awareness to the issue of domestic violence.
It’s nice to see all of these campaigns for domestic violence, a topic that should be addressed more often that it is, not just when a celebrity does it..
I never really gave much thought to financial abuse, but it’s a very valid point. I think about my situation and while my husband is the bread winner in the house, I think I would do ok on my own if need be.
As a former victim of domestic violence, I know all too much about this sort of thing. My paychecks were taken from me, so it was difficult for my child and I to escape the situation. Luckily we did. I’m also a huge fan of Kerry Washington, so it’s great to see her help promoting this cause. I’ll be adding a purple purse charm to my collection.
It is so important that we bring awareness to domestic abuse victims. They have been silent for too long in many cases.
I never thought much about financial abuse and domestic violence together… but yes, I can see that happening. Glad to hear Allstate is helping domestic violence survivors regain control of their finances.