NORTHBROOK, Ill., April 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- As women
around the country continue to bravely share their stories of
harassment and abuse, a survey released today in honor of Financial
Literacy Month by Allstate Foundation Purple Purse reveals the
topic of domestic violence is becoming increasingly taboo. While
survey findings show the American public ranks domestic violence as
one of the most serious national issues, one-third think discussing
domestic violence is taboo, a 10-point increase since the 2014
survey (34 percent in 2018 vs. 24 percent in 2014).
Sixty-two percent of Americans rank domestic violence as an
extremely serious problem in the United
States, placing it on par with issues such as substance
abuse (70 percent), terrorism (65 percent), crime (65 percent),
identity theft (62 percent) and poverty (60 percent). Still, the
lack of discourse can make the most common form of domestic
violence – financial abuse, which occurs in 99 percent1
of domestic violence cases – even more difficult to detect and
understand, especially when considering nearly half (47 percent)
aren't familiar with financial abuse as a form of domestic
violence.
"Our new research validates that the public recognizes the
severity of domestic violence and financial abuse and their
long-term impact on survivors; yet, as a society, we are still
afraid to speak up and provide help," said Vicky Dinges, Allstate's senior vice president
of corporate social responsibility. "Now more than ever, we must
stand up to abusers and speak out for survivors. By facing this
issue head on, we can amplify the voice of the too-often silenced
domestic violence victim, and accelerate the powerful momentum
surrounding the women's movement on a national scale."
Since 2005, The Allstate Foundation has been committed to ending
domestic violence through financial empowerment services for
survivors. The Allstate Foundation conducted the national survey to
inform its ongoing work, with a particular focus on public
perception of domestic violence and financial abuse during this
important moment in time.
A snapshot of the survey's most compelling findings is included
below:
- Despite Americans' reluctance to talk about domestic
violence, nearly 69 percent think the recently shared stories
around workplace harassment will spark more testimonials in the
public sphere.
- The public struggles when it comes to recognizing the signs
of financial abuse and knowing how to help victims.
-
- Forty-eight percent agree that financial abuse is the hardest
form of abuse for an outsider to recognize — more than
physical, sexual and emotional abuse.
- Only 34 percent would know how to help if they suspected a
family member or friend were a victim.
- Fifty-one percent of survivors, even with their personal
experience with the issue, wouldn't know how to help another
victim.
- Fifty-five percent of respondents reported being or knowing
a victim of domestic violence or financial abuse, but less than
half (44 percent) have talked about the topic with a family member
or friend.
- Seventy-one percent of those who have experienced financial
abuse think the most effective way to keep victims from returning
to their abusers is through financial empowerment.
Since 2005, Allstate Foundation Purple Purse has empowered more
than 1.3 million survivors on the road to safety and security
through its educational resources, including The Allstate
Foundation's Purple Purse Moving Ahead curriculum. The
curriculum equips women with the necessary knowledge to empower
themselves financially and recover from financial abuse. To date,
The Allstate Foundation has invested more than $60 million to help educate the public about
financial abuse and provide critical survivor services, including
financial education, asset-building, job training and readiness
programs.
Visit PurplePurse.com today to donate to the cause and learn how
to help a victim or start a conversation. Follow Purple Purse on
social media (Facebook, Twitter) for future updates on this year's
initiative.
If you or someone you know is in a domestic violence situation,
call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE
(7233) or TTY 1-800-787-3224.
Methodology
The Allstate Foundation Domestic Violence and Financial Abuse
survey was conducted online between February
9-17, 2018, by GfK among 1,840 American adults over age 18.
It was a nationally representative sample of 1,052, with
demographic oversamples (age 22-37), as well as residents of
Florida, Illinois, New
York and Texas. The margin
of error for the total sample is +/- 2.6 percentage points at the
95 percent confidence interval. The survey was offered in both
English and Spanish.
About The Allstate Foundation
Established in 1952, The Allstate Foundation is an independent
charitable organization made possible by subsidiaries of The
Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL). Through partnerships with
nonprofit organizations across the country, The Allstate Foundation
brings the relationships, reputation and resources of Allstate to
support innovative and lasting solutions that enhance people's
well-being and prosperity. With a focus on building financial
independence for domestic violence survivors, empowering youth and
celebrating the charitable community involvement of Allstate agency
owners and employees, The Allstate Foundation works to bring out
the good in people's lives. For more information,
visit www.AllstateFoundation.org.
1 Center for Financial Security; Measuring the
Effects of Domestic Violence on Women's Financial Well-Being;
p.1;
https://centerforfinancialsecurity.files.wordpress.com/2015/04/adams2011.pdf
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SOURCE Allstate Foundation Purple Purse