Kerry Washington designs a “purple purse” to raise awareness about “invisible” domestic abuse

The 37-year-old Emmy-nominated actress is determined to draw attention to the kind of domestic abuse which is usually overlooked: financial abuse.

Washington had an interview with The Huffington Post  while she was attending an awareness event about the issue hosted by The Allstate Foundation.

The actress is an ambassador for the foundation, which is currently running a campaign about the issue of financial abuse called "purple purse." Washington has designed a limited edition purple purse to put emphasis on the role of money in domestic abuse. She is also the campaign's spokesperson.

Domestic abuse has been a big topic of discussion in the public sphere after a video of the NFL player Ray Rice knocking out his then-fiancee in an Atlantic City elevator was released by TMZ. Rice's contract was cancelled by his team the Baltimore Ravens and he was suspended indefinitely by the NFL.

After the incident, women started posting on Twitter under the hashtags #whyIstayed and #whyILeft about the reasons why they stayed or left their relationships after being exposed to domestic violence.

Washington told the Huffington Post she thinks many victims stay in abusive relationships because of financial reasons.

Financial abuse in the domestic sphere can be described as a method of controlling and isolating a partner through control over money. Victims might not be able to flee because their partners might limit their access to money, or their ability to work might be impaired by their partner. Sometimes, abusers would pile up debt under their partner's names so they wouldn't be able to leave.

The "Scandal" actress, said in her interview that people just aren't as aware of financial abuse, even the victims themselves. "If a woman isn't even aware of the dynamics of financial abuse- what it looks like, what it is- she may not even know that that's part of the tools being used to control her and manipulate her and keep her trapped. When there is more information about it, people can begin to identify it and then get the help they need."

Washington noted that she loved designing the bag for the campaign. "A purse is a powerful symbol. It's where a woman's economic power lives."