Olivia Pope isn’t the only one making a difference these days. Kerry Washington is taking her empowering role off set and making a difference in real life.
The Scandal actress has teamed up with Allstate to launch the Purple Purse Campaign. The campaign, which focuses on a purple clutch, aims to raise awareness and strike conversation concerning domestic violence. More specifically, the campaign targets women in financially abusive relationships. Many are unaware of what financial abuse is, and Washington admitted that she was also unaware prior to jumping on board. Financial abuse is a common tactic used by abusers to gain control in a relationship, which deters many women from leaving. After joining the campaign and learning more about the leading reason women remain in abusive relationships, she insists that financial abuse is an important issue to tackle.
Any type of domestic abuse, whether physical or financial is tough to talk about, which is why the campaign focuses on the purple clutch. The limited-edition purse designed by Dee Ocleppo serves as a symbol for starting that dialogue.
Kerry Washington told the Huffington Post, “It’s hard to talk about a black eye, and it’s hard to talk about being strangled or being kicked out or having your credit destroyed. Those things are really hard to talk about. But if you open the conversation with a purse, if you make it something that’s fun to talk about, somehow one of those layers of isolation starts to melt. People begin to be less afraid of having the discussion and of asking for help and sharing their story and empowering others. Not to mention, a purse is where your financial well-being lives. All of the things that are of value to you live in your purse, so it’s kind of the perfect metaphor for this work.”
The clutch will be sold exclusively by Saks Fifth Avenue and a portion of the proceed will go to the Allstate Foundation Purple Purse nonprofit.
Watch Kerry Washington talk about the Allstate Purple Purse Campaign.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=0jsn5fV7O18