What is Economic Abuse?

Parental alienation is a painful issue that affects many families globally.

Often, a form of manipulation—economic abuse—lies at its core.

This type of abuse can be just as damaging as emotional or physical abuse, and its impact can be deep and lasting.

In this article, we will explore what economic abuse looks like, how it plays a role in parental alienation, and the significant effects it can have on targeted parents.

If you're an alienated parent and need help with your situation then please join PAPA today.

At PAPA we have several free to use support spaces, as well as additional resources available to our Plus members, such as courses, PAPA AI and 1-2-1 help.

Economic Abuse Explained

Economic abuse is a form of coercive control that limits a partner's ability to access and manage financial resources.

It can appear in several ways, such as:

• Controlling all financial decisions

• Preventing a partner from getting a job or pursuing an education

• Depleting shared financial resources without permission

  
  

This type of control often stems from a desire for power.

Economic abuse may be quieter than other forms but is often equally, if not more, damaging.

It can leave victims vulnerable, affecting their ability to support themselves and their children.

Understanding Parental Alienation

Parental alienation occurs when one parent actively works to erode the relationship between the child and the other parent.

This manipulation may involve:

• Bad-mouthing the targeted parent to the child

• Restricting contact between the child and the targeted parent

• Creating fear or aversion towards the targeted parent

  
  

The consequences of parental alienation can be severe, leading to long-lasting emotional and psychological damage for both the targeted parent and the child.

Alienating behaviours often emerge from various sources, including unresolved conflicts, contentious divorces, or custody disputes.

The Intersection of Economic Abuse and Parental Alienation

Economic abuse and parental alienation often intersect in destructive ways.

For example, an alienating parent may control financial resources to undermine the targeted parent's ability to respond effectively to alienation.

Consider a situation in which the targeted parent loses their job and struggles to pay for legal help.

The alienating parent may then refuse to provide financial support, further complicating the situation.

This effectively limits the targeted parent's options and heightens stress as they deal with both alienation and financial pressure.

How Economic Abuse Affects Targeted Parents

The impact of economic abuse on targeted parents can be deep and varied.

Here are some specific ways it manifests:

1. Financial Dependency

Economic abuse often leads to financial dependency.

A targeted parent may rely entirely on the alienating parent for funding, creating a power imbalance.

According to recent studies, over 75% of individuals experiencing economic abuse do not feel they can challenge their abuser due to fear of losing necessary resources.

2. Lack of Legal Representation

Targeted parents may find it challenging to afford legal representation in custody cases.

The average cost of personal legal fees can range between £3,000 to £5,000, which may be unattainable for someone facing economic abuse.

Consequently, they may be unable to pursue court action to maintain their relationship with their child.

Luckily PAPA Plus gives targeted parents access to legal assistance for a very minor cost in comparison.

3. Emotional Distress

The combination of economic abuse and parental alienation can significantly increase emotional distress.

In fact, studies show that individuals experiencing both forms of abuse are more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression.

The targeted parent’s struggle often involves not just fighting for their child but also dealing with debilitating financial control.

4. Impact on Parenting Ability

Economic abuse can impair a parent's ability to offer emotional and material support to their children.

Without financial stability, daily disruptions can affect family routines, leading to a turbulent home life.

Children often sense their parent's stress, which can hinder their emotional well-being.

Recognising Economic Abuse in Your Situation

Understanding the indicators of economic abuse is essential for those who may be experiencing it amidst parental alienation.

Key signs include:

• Control Over Finances: If one parent controls all spending and decisions about money, this is a warning sign.

• Limitation of Employment Opportunities: Being discouraged or blocked from pursuing work or education can signify economic abuse.

• Withholding Financial Information: Lack of access to shared financial data, like bank accounts or debts, is another red flag.

• Diminishing Resources: Noticeable decreases in shared resources, such as savings accounts or household assets, can indicate manipulation.

  
  

Legal Protections Against Economic Abuse

Legal safeguards against economic abuse exist in many areas, particularly concerning family disputes.

It’s vital to consult a legal expert to explore options such as:

• Restraining Orders: In situations where economic abuse overlaps with other harm, a restraining order can limit control over finances.

• Modification of Custody Agreements: If a targeted parent shows how economic abuse affects parenting abilities, they may seek to modify custody arrangements.

• Financial Support Orders: Courts can issue orders mandating financial contributions from both parents to ensure a child's welfare.

  
  

Strategies for Targeted Parents

Targeted parents facing both parental alienation and economic abuse can employ strategies to regain control:

1. Gather Documentation

Collect evidence of economic abuse by documenting all relevant financial transactions and communications.

This can significantly strengthen your position in potential legal matters.

2. Build a Support Network

Reach out to supportive friends, family, or advocacy groups.

Sharing your experiences can relieve burdens and open up new resources you may not have considered.

Joining the PAPA support networks is strongly recommended.

3. Seek Professional Help

Checking in with counsellors or therapists can assist in managing the emotional toll of economic abuse and parental alienation.

They can provide coping strategies and help you navigate the complexities of your situation.

4. Legal Consultation

Work with PAPA and speak to someone experienced in family law and economic abuse.

We can clarify your rights and guide you through the best actions to take.

The Role of Community Awareness

Raising awareness about economic abuse related to parental alienation is essential.

When communities understand these issues, they are more likely to offer support to targeted parents.

Advocacy groups like PAPA can educate the public about economic abuse while providing resources for those in need, pushing for lasting solutions.

Prevention and Long-Term Solutions

Tackling economic abuse in parental alienation cases goes beyond individual efforts.

Long-term solutions require systemic change, which can involve:

• Policy Reform: Advocating for laws that recognise economic abuse as a form of maltreatment is critical.

• Education and Training: Providing training for legal professionals and law enforcement on recognising economic abuse can lead to better outcomes for affected families.

• Public Awareness Campaigns: Campaigning to educate the public about the signs and consequences of economic abuse can create a more supportive atmosphere for those affected.

  
  

Moving Forward

Economic abuse is a harmful form of control that compounds the trauma of parental alienation.

For targeted parents, navigating economic manipulation while aiming to maintain connections with their children is daunting.

However, by recognising the signs of abuse, taking proactive steps, and seeking support, change is possible.

Increasing awareness of economic abuse within parental alienation cases can help empower targeted parents and ultimately foster healthier family dynamics.

In conclusion, addressing economic abuse is not merely about restoring financial independence; it's also about ensuring that targeted parents can meaningfully engage with their children and reclaim their essential role within their families.

In need of help or support?

If you are an alienated parent reading this article and feel you are in need of help and support then please make sure to join PAPA today by signing up here on our website.

This will give you access to our community support forum as well as our Resource Centre, which includes downloadable guides and on-demand courses to help through the process of being alienated and regaining contact with your children.

We also have our Facebook support group that you can join here.

Our Facebook support group has several dedicated chat rooms where you can get immediate support.

If you are a member of PAPA you can also send us a message here on the website and we will try to get back to you as soon as possible but please bear in mind, we have hundreds of messages weekly so it may take us a while to get back to you.

We are currently prioritising PAPA Plus members due to high demand.

Regardless of circumstance you are not alone and at PAPA we are here to support you.

Become a PAPA Ambassador

If you like our resources, articles and support networks and agree with what we stand for then why not get involved and help us push PAPA further by joining our Ambassador Program?

We would love for you to join us and help spread awareness for parental alienation and all of the dynamics involved so that we can continue to help parents and children towards a better future.

Our Ambassador Program allows you to grow your involvement with the cause by earning points on your membership.

To earn points we have created rewards for actions such as completing one of our courses, booking a case review, or ordering supply.

We will be adding new rewards and actions to our Ambassador Program as we continue to grow our awareness efforts.

We want our members to feel rewarded for their support as we continue to look for new ways to improve the lives of those impacted by parental alienation.

You can also become a PAPA Plus member, which will give you exclusive access to even more help and resources.

Each PAPA Plus membership makes a huge difference to the cause as it really helps us to improve our services and our awareness campaigns.

Proceeds from memberships and supply allow us to push the cause much further towards raising awareness and improving our services and resources so that we can continue to help more and more parents and children.

Thank you for reading and for your continued support of PAPA and our mission to end parental alienation.