What is domestic violence? If we look at the definition put forth by the CDC it says there are four main types of intimate partner violence (domestic violence), physical violence, sexual violence, threats of physical or sexual violence and psychological/emotional violence.

The WHO (World Health Organization) has similar definition “behaviour within an intimate relationship that causes physical, sexual or psychological harm, including acts of physical aggression, sexual coercion, psychological abuse and controlling behaviours.”

Both organizations do not recognize economic abuse as a type of domestic violence. I am a survivor of domestic violence and during my marriage I was physically, emotionally and sexually abused - and I was also economically abused.

When we married I was a naïve teenage bride who had no idea what abuse was. I was also never taught how to manage money. Money wasn’t discussed in our home. So when I left at age thirty nine I didn’t even have my own personal checking account.

My story is not unusual.  Most women who are in abusive relationships don’t have access to money or credit cards of their own. And, when a woman leaves the abuser she can count on the abuser cutting her off from any family funds.

The abuser controls the finances as a means of control over the victim. Economic abuse is a device used by the abuser which prevents the victim from leaving as the victim does not have any financial resources of her own. If the victim has no financial resources she is stuck in the relationship and the abuser knows it.  The sad reality is most people do not even think of economic abuse when they think of domestic violence. The “scars” from economic abuse are not visible but will have lasting effects long after the abusive relationship has ended. These economic scars will wreck a woman’s credit rating and make it almost impossible for her to obtain employment or secure housing.  And for many women the lack of financial resources will drive her right back to the abuser.

It’s time the CDC and WHO recognize that economic abuse is a form of domestic violence.