Here’s an interesting story we found at Womensenews. This issue seems especially relevant as we continue to endure tough economic times.
Congresswomam Loretta Sanchez (D) California recently gave a briefing on Capitol Hill about the issue of Economic Abuse. From the original story:
Economic abuse through domestic violence that results in the loss of a job occurs in up to half of all battering cases, according to a Government Accountability Office report. The current recession may exacerbate abuse. A November 2008 survey of 8,000 callers to the National Domestic Violence Hotline found that 68 percent of callers believed that their abuse had worsened within the previous year.
Such abuse can range from preventing a partner from obtaining employment to intentionally run up massive debts for which both people are responsible.
Sanchez said she continues to see economic abuse regularly among her constituents who seek help. Some immigrant victims, she said, have been stopped by their spouses from seeking legalization documents and threatened with deportation if they fight against the abuse.
“In some ways it is like indentured servitude,” Sanchez said.
