As if the slumping economy alone weren’t enough bad news, a new survey now links and increase in domestic violence to ongoing financial troubles. But one cosmetic company is taking steps to help protect women and children.
Mary Kay’s Truth About Abuse survey shows that 75 percent of the domestic violence shelters in the U.S. have seen an increasing number of women seeking their services since the economy began its downward spiral.
Sue Else, president of the National Network to End Domestic Violence commented on the survey’s alarming link.
"The economic downturn is exacerbating domestic violence," she said. "The demand for domestic violence services is growing, and we must increase support for victims during this difficult time."
According to the Mary Kay results, 73 percent of the 600 domestic violence shelters surveyed cited financial issues as the main reason they have seen a pick-up in activity, while 61 percent claim stress and 49 percent say job loss are contributing factors.
The most recent unemployment numbers from the government show the economy lost another 539,000 jobs in April and the national unemployment rate grew to 8.9 percent.
While all geographic regions reported an increase in women seeking assistance, the highest figures came from the South.
But a new philanthropic effort by the beauty company has been born from this alarming trend. Mary Kay has launched a national campaign, Beauty That Counts, through December 15, 2009 where $1 from each sale of a limited-edition Pink Passion and Gingerbread lip crème will be funneled to the fight against domestic violence.
In fact, to support the new campaign, the company is donating almost $2 million to a variety of groups and causes that work to prevent domestic violence and support women and children who may already be affected.
I am currently involved in a domestic violence situation. The only advice I get is to go to a shelter. I am not going to do that. I am buying a house with my common law husband. His name, my name and my mother’s names are on the deed. My mother, who will be 85 in July, and only receives a few hundred dollars each month in Social Security and two of my children (19 and 22) are living with me while they attend our local college. I am a loan officer and have been able to work until about a month ago due to injuries my common law husband has caused. I am a mess. I would like to get him out of my life and turn him into authorities so that he would finally have to realize that there are consequences for actions you take. But right now if I do that, my family and I will end up on the street. I would like to be able to get a lower interest rate on my home so that I can afford to make the payment and the house does not go back to the bank. However, I cannot qualify for a refinance. If he goes to jail, right now the payment is so high, the house will definitely go into foreclosure. Do you have any suggestions? I’m desperate.