When we think of domestic violence, physical abuse generally comes to mind. The offender is looking for control and dominates the victim by hitting, punching, slapping or throwing them around. It’s a serious national problem, and in Minnesota in 2013 alone, 37 people were killed in domestic violence related homicides. In most situations in which there is domestic abuse, the intimate partner is too afraid to tell anyone because of the repercussions they will endure from the abuser. An example of this can be seen in one of these particular cases, the victim had finally gotten the strength to move out and was shot and killed by her boyfriend while the moving van was in front of her home. One of the most reliable indicators that someone is in serious risk of being harmed is if the abuser has threatened them. The truth is that about 30% of women murdered in the country, are killed by intimate partners. If you have a friend, or notice a co-worker who has been missing a lot of work or shows up with injuries, you can save a life by not overlooking the severity of the issue. The individual might be reluctant to talk, but let them know you are available for any support they might need.
Another type of domestic abuse that is a bit subtler is economic abuse. In some situations, you may not be able to see signs of violence on the person’s body but they are being emotionally abused by a spouse or intimate partner in the form of economic restraints. This includes controlling all the money, keeping the victim from gaining access to funds when necessary, not allowing the victim to get a job or become financially self-sufficient, or identity theft.
Economic abuse can have lifelong consequences. The situation can prevent a victim from getting the proper education they need to get a job. The individual lacks the resources to learn how to handle money and can become susceptible to scams out of desperation for financial aid. In some situations, the victim takes out credit cards and incurs debt therefore damaging their credit and making them unable to get out of the abusive relationship.
Some indicators that someone is being economically abused are:
- An individual who has to depend 100% on his/her intimate partner for financial assistance.
- An individual who isn’t allowed to get a job or go to school.
- An individual who has justify every dime spent and is punished for response.
- An individual who is forbidden to have his or her own bank account.
- An individual who is constantly harassed by the abuser with frequent phone calls or unexpected visits at the workplace, which might hinder their job performance.
- An individual who has good credit that is damaged by an intimate partner’s misuse of funds.
The bottom line is that emotional and economic abuse is just as serious as being physically injured. If the survivor is left afraid, insecure and lacking self-esteem, it’s time to get out of the relationship. If you know someone or see yourself in one of these scenarios, seek help now.
