Spotlight: Click To Empower Campaign

Click to Empower, a campaign sponsored by The Allstate Foundation, is giving much needed attention to a form of domestic violence which is not often discussed - economic abuse. Abusers frequently use financial matters to gain and keep control over their partners. Without having economic means of their own, it makes leaving an abusive relationship extremely difficult for victims.

The newly redesigned website includes resources and information about the Economics Abuse Program and the Tell A Gal P.A.L" campaign, dedicated to breaking the taboo against talking about domestic violence.

If you want to support or learn more about Click to Empower you can find them on Facebook, MySpace and YouTube.

Spotlight: Click To Empower Campaign

Chris Brown and Rhianna

As I'm sure most of you have heard by now, Chris Brown was arrested (now currently out on bail) for allegedly attacking his girlfriend, Rhianna.

This incident raises many issues. First of all, domestic violence can occur for anyone, including celebrities. Second, Chris Brown is 19 and his girlfriend, Rhianna, is 20; both very young adults. Furthermore, in accounts by the media of the alleged assault, it is frequently commented that they appeared to be happy together, a typical observation made of couples going through abuse.

The trail is set for March 5. In the meantime, Rhianna is laying low with her family and most of Chris Brown's ad sponsors including Wrigleys and Milk have pulled their support until the matter is settled in court.

Chris Brown and Rhianna

Staying Safe with an Abuser

If you are in an abusive relationship, but are not ready or do not feel like it is a good idea to leave, there are some things you can do to help stay safe:

- Know things that your abuser can use as a weapon. He may use sharp or heavy objects, like a hammer or an ice pick, to hurt you.

- Know where guns, knives, and other weapons are. If you can, lock them up or make them as hard to get to as you can.

- Figure out "safe places" in your home - places where there aren't weapons. If it looks like your abuser is about to hurt you, try to get to a safe place. Stay out of the kitchen, garage, or workshop. Try to avoid rooms with tile or hardwood floors.

- If there's no way to escape violence, make yourself a small target. Dive into a corner and curl up into a ball. Protect your face and put your arms around each side of your head, wrapping your fingers together.

- If you can, always have a phone you can get to. Know the numbers to call for help. Know where the nearest pay phone is. Know your local battered women's shelter number. Don't be afraid to call the police or 911.

- Let friends and neighbors you trust know what is going on. Make a plan with them for when you need help. Have a signal, like flashing the lights on and off or hanging something out the window, to tell them you need help.

Read more about safety planning and staying safe on WomensLaw.org.

Staying Safe with an Abuser

Answers From the Internet

"For help with a variety of common problems, more people turn to the internet than consult experts or family members to provide information and resources."*


*http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/231/report_display.asp

Answers From the Internet

Emotional Abuse

What are examples of Emotional Abuse?
- Being called names by your abuser
- Using words to shame you or put you down in front of others
- Yelling, swearing and screaming
- Using threats to intimidate you
- You abuser may blame you for his or her loss of control
- Your feelings are dismissed (Ex. Refusing to discuss things that are important to you)
- You often wonder why you feel so bad (Ex. You feel depressed and sometimes think that you are crazy)
- Manipulating your actions. The persistence and intense use of threatening words to get you to do something you do not want to do

How do I get help?
It is important to know that it is not your fault and there are people out there who can help you. Check the State and Local Programs page at WomensLaw.org to find organizations new you who provide counseling services.

Emotional Abuse

Less Jobs, More Violence

Data released Jan. 30 by the National Domestic Violence Hotline, shows that there has been an increase in violence over the last year, which could be directly correlated to an increase in job loss.

Over the six months that the NDVH collected data (7,868 callers participated), 54% said there had been a change in their household's financial situation in the last year. Additionaly, 64% said the abuse had gotten worse in the last year.

With past research already supporting the notion that violence increases in times of economic hardship, it is not a surprise that more violence is bring reported today. This means that services like WomensLaw.org, the NDVH, and other organizations across the country are facing a higher demand for services.

Below is a news clip from an Oklahoma news station from Dec. 15, 2008 about the economy increasing abuse in OK.

Less Jobs, More Violence