Kerry Washington Speaks Up About A Side Of Domestic Abuse You May Not Even Know Exists

In the aftermath of the Ray Rice domestic abuse scandal and the social media campaign #WhyIStayed, actress Kerry Washington is standing up against financial abuse, a type of abuse not often discussed.

In partnership with the Allstate Foundation, Washington is working on a campaign to stop financial abuse.

Abusers withhold money, destroy credit and damage careers in an effort to stop their significant others from leaving. One in four women will experience some form of domestic abuse during her lifetime, according to Allstate.

Washington says that awareness is the first step to prevention.

According to the actress,

If a woman isn't even aware of the dynamics of financial abuse... she may not even know that that's part of the tools being used to control her and manipulate her and keep her trapped.

Washington designed a limited-edition purple purse, and its sales benefit 140 domestic violence charities across the country. She says that the purse isn't simply a fashion accessory, but rather "where a woman's economic power lives."

To date, the Purple Purse Challenge has raised $600,000 for victims of abuse.

H/T: Huffington Post