This article was developed as part of the #16DaysOfActivism campaign and primarily targets our Armenian audience.
What is Financial Abuse?
When we think about domestic violence and abuse, we don’t often think about how money plays into everything. Yet nearly all survivors who speak out say an abuser also subjected them to financial abuse.
In fact, financial abuse is oftentimes cited as the reason why a survivor feels trapped indefinitely with an abuser. Without one’s own financial autonomy, how can a survivor afford to leave and start over? For abusers, taking away a victim’s ability to earn or access money is the ideal way to control them.
Financial Abuse can Begin under a Caring Pretense
Financial abuse, also sometimes called economic abuse, may start off feeling something like care or concern from a partner. The abuser may not want the survivor to keep going to school to earn a degree because they want them to be at home. The abusive individual misses them.
In reality, the abuser often doesn’t want the survivor to have the freedom of broader job opportunities.
The abuser may also tell the survivor they don’t need to find a job, or encourage them to quit their current job. The abuser claims he or she will provide everything the survivor needs. They’ll “take care” of them. The survivor doesn’t have to worry about money.
The abuser may not want the survivor to be concerned about where their “shared” money is going. They don’t allow the survivor access to bank accounts or credit cards because the survivor doesn’t need to trouble themselves with those details.
After a while, this “care and concern” the abuser claims to have may start to feel more like power and control. The survivor may come to realize the only way to pay for something is to ask their partner. A power structure is established. The survivor’s needs are determined by the abuser, and the survivor is dependent on them for all basic needs, like food, housing and clothing.
The Red Flags of Financial Abuse
Of course, there are many other facets of financial abuse than what was described above. An abuser may not start off with care and concern, but rather jump right into full control of the finances. Potential victims of financial abuse may recognize an abuser doing some or all of the following during financial abuse:
- Sabotages employment opportunities.
- Forbids their partner from working.
- Controls how money is spent.
- Denies their partner direct access to bank accounts.
- Gives their partner an “allowance.”
- Forces a partner to write bad checks or file fraudulent tax returns.
- Runs up large debts on joint accounts without their partner’s permission.
- Forces a partner to work in the family business without pay.
- Refuses to pay bills for accounts that are in a partner’s name in order to ruin your credit.
- Forces a partner to turn over paychecks or public benefits checks.
- Forces a partner to account for all money spent by showing receipts.
- Applies for credit accounts using a partner’s name and personal information.
- Withholds money for basic necessities like food, clothing, medication and housing.
- Spends money on himself or herself but doesn’t allow a partner to do the same.
- Expects something in return after giving presents or paying for things.
- Forces a partner to work while he or she does not and yet still controls all the money.
Financial Exploitation
In addition to controlling shared finances, another tactic of financial abuse is exploitation, or when an abuser takes advantage of a survivor’s financial resources. This may include:
- Outright stealing
- Forcing the survivor to give money to the abuser
- Spending money that was intended for rent or other important bills on personal items
- Manipulating credit and debt (intending to destroy a survivor’s credit)
- Refusing to work or contribute to household expenses (and then often demanding the home if the couple divorces)
- Damaging expensive items in fits of anger
Financial Sabotage
An abusive partner may also sabotage a survivor’s efforts to gain financial independence, another tactic of financial abuse. This can look like:
- Preventing a survivor from working or completing their education
- Damaging the supplies or equipment a survivor needs to work
- Denying her access to a car in order to get to work
- Creating other barriers for the survivor to get to work or complete their work
- Trying to get a survivor fired
