LatinaLista — It’s said that domestic violence is more common than diabetes. And if social media is any indication, in the aftermath of the NFL fiasco handling of those players caught in acts of violence, domestic violence is at crisis levels. For too many Latino families it’s also a daily fact of life.
A new survey by the Allstate Foundation, “Silent Weapon: Domestic Violence and Financial Abuse,” finds that 30 percent of Latinas reveal they have been victims of domestic abuse, while 64 percent of Latinas confess to knowing a victim of domestic abuse. The biggest mystery to spectators of domestic violence is why the victims continue to stay with their abusers.
A big reason has little to do with punches and kicks but everything to do with dinero. Victims of domestic violence also suffer from financial abuse. The abuser handles the money, leaving the victim feeling powerless over her/his situation and future. In the Allstate survey, Latinas cited money as the least likely reason to leave an abusive relationship.
To promote awareness of domestic and financial abuse, the Allstate Foundation created the bilingual Purple Purse/ Bolsa Morada campaign. The sites offer information on the warning signs of domestic violence and financial abuse and resources and tools for victims.
The foundation is also spearheading the Purple Purse Challenge, a crowdfunding campaign that benefits the organizations helping domestic violence victims.
The foundation enlisted the help of the campaign’s celebrity ambassador, actress Kerry Washington, who designed a special purple purse for the campaign. Meant to represent the “center of a woman’s financial domain,” three purses a day will be given away in random drawings among those who donate at least $10 to the campaign.
The challenge ends October 3, 2014.
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