The Many Forms of Financial Abuse

Let's Make It Clear On The Types, Examples & Definitions of Each Abuse

First to get you to understand that there are different forms of Abuse. No form of abuse is okay! There are Physical, Emotional, Mental, Psychological, Sexual & Financial. Out of all 6 forms of abuse, Financial Abuse takes the lead with 99% of abused victims reporting Financial Abuse in relationships. So since Financial Abuse is the most common abuse then why is this not being addressed more?  Here we will focus more on the Financial Abuse aspect.

So let's get started & define each one.

Financial Abuse - Tactics that the Abuser uses towards their Victim(s) to gain control, or to continue to control by reducing or limiting access to cash, assets & finances.

Economic Abuse -  (1) The Abuser not only controls the money, assets & finances but restricts the Victim from essential resources that money can not buy (2) The Abuser prevents the Victim from improving their situation Via: A job, refusing to pay for a Babysitter or Daycare for the Victim to work, higher education, keeping the Victim pregnant, etc. (3) Abuser refusing Victim access to funds to purchase items when needed such as (a) Shampoo (b) conditioner (c) body wash (d) toothpaste (e) feminine hygiene products (f) feminine menstrual products, etc.

Financial Infidelity - (1) When a couple has shared finances & one of them hides or misrepresents financial information from their significant other (2) Hiding debts (3) Secret Bank Accounts (4) Lying about money (5) Withholding financial records (6) Making large purchases without the significant other's consent or knowledge (7) Secretly using finances to support an addiction or hobby

Socio-Economic Abuse - (1) Gives & calls victim status as an unappreciated rank or a demeaning status as an object such as (a) Housewife (b) Trophy Wife (2) Makes victim work without pay either in the home or in a business. By Federal Law, this is defined as an "Indentured Servant" & is a form of Slavery (3) Takes the Victim's earnings (4) Abuser feels entitled to taking & keeping all cash, assets & finances from the Victim (5) Causes injuries to the victim so they don't work or fail to continue their duty. Examples are (a) Targeted physical abuse (b) Purposely putting the Victim in a situation or environment to get sick (c) The Victim suffering from lack of sleep by taking on neglectful duties of the Abuser

Coerced Debt - (1) It is Economic Abuse (2) Purposely causes debt to the victim (3) Abuser uses Victim's information without consent or knowledge (4) Abuser creates debt in Victim's name (5) It is Coercive Control (6) Identity Theft (7) Abuser forces Victim into debt by intimidating means (8) Abuser forces Victim into Bankruptcy

Financial Coercion - (1) Abuser isolates Victim by financial means (2) Abuser controls all spending (3) Controls Victim's access to cash, assets & finances (4) Victim can only spend cash or finances with Abuser present (5) Abuser gives cash, assets or finances to Victim only to control when the Victim can spend it & with Abuser present (6) Abuser likes & makes sure that the Victim can only get out of the house by spending time with the Abuser (7) Abuser manipulates Victim into believing that the only way the Victim can spend money or have fun is only with the Abuser present (8) Abuser will not allow Victim access to finances to run errands. Via, Oil change, grocery shopping, picking up food, dry cleaning, a gallon of milk, etc. (9) Abuser gives Victim only two options on spending & going out. These are: (a) The Abuser will pick it up or go get it (b) The Abuser "offers" that they go together