photo: BEImages/Jim Smeal.
Perhaps the only silver lining from the Ray Rice scandal is that domestic violence has become a real hot-button issue in recent weeks, and the conversation helps raise awareness.
Now, Kerry Washington is adding to the conversation. In a new PSA, Washington highlights financial abuse, a kind of domestic abuse that not many people talk about.
"For many, many of those cases — 98% of those cases — the financial abuse is what keeps a woman trapped,” Washington said, about the threat of economic hardship some men use to scare women into remaining in abusive relationships. "Not being able to control your finances, destroying a woman’s credit, jeopardizing her job.”
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While the Scandal star — who married former NFL player Nnamdi Asomugha last year — may not necessarily be able to relate to the issue, after seeing the staggering statistics, she felt compelled to become the spokeswoman for Purple Purse, The Allstate Foundation's campaign to raise awareness against financial abuse.
"One in four women will be a victim of domestic violence. Finances are almost always a weapon of choice.” she said.
To learn more about financial abuse and the Purple Purse campaign click here. (Politico)