On April 6, 2023, University of Maryland School of Social Work (UMSSW) Dean Judy L. Postmus, PhD, ACSW, engaged in a Reddit Ask Me Anything (AMA) event to discuss economic or financial abuse in relationships.

Postmus is a recognized advocate for victims of economic abuse and has made significant contributions to identifying and addressing this issue through her research and publication "Building Financial Empowerment for Survivors of Domestic Violence: A Path to Hope and Freedom." Postmus has dedicated her research to the physical, sexual, and economic victimization of women. She is particularly interested in the financial empowerment and financial literacy of women who are victims of domestic and economic abuse.

Reddit is a unique and valuable platform that allows faculty and industry professionals to engage with a large, diverse audience, share their expertise, and make a positive impact. With over 330 million active users worldwide, Reddit boasts a diverse community that allows experts to connect with people who are interested in their field of study or career.

AMA events on Reddit have been used by top institutions such as Harvard University, NASA, and the World Health Organization and have attracted thousands of users who engage in open discussions with the experts. Through AMAs, faculty and industry professionals can share their experiences and knowledge, get feedback from users, build relationships, and gain exposure. Notably, AMA events on Reddit also have been used to shed light on social and political issues, making it the perfect tool for promoting awareness of financial abuse in relationships.

"The important research on economic abuse shared by Dean Postmus is a great fit for a Reddit Ask Me Anything. The focused topic connected with a user base that is young, college educated, and highly connected and engaged with social causes, and the metrics we see reaffirms that," said Charles Schelle, lead social media specialist for the University of Maryland, Baltimore. "While the AMA officially lasted two hours, the thread received more than a half million views, 1,200 upvotes and more than 100 comments in the first 24 hours. It clearly outperformed any organic engagement and reach on any other individual social media post for UMB."

This high engagement demonstrates the importance of discussing economic abuse and the need for resources and support for those who experience it.

"This is the first Reddit AMA done coordinated at UMB in recent history, and I certainly hope that there are more to come," Schelle added. "It's an excellent way for faculty to share their knowledge about their research, especially if it's unique or uncommon, or is related to something being discussed in the news or in pop culture."

Economic abuse is not simply stealing money from a loved one. It involves manipulating someone through coercive control of their finances or their ability to earn money. This can include preventing someone from getting a job, withholding money, or controlling how money is spent.

Postmus addressed the importance of recognizing the subtle signs of financial abuse, such as restricting a partner's access to money, credit, or bank accounts and manipulating their expenses to gain control. Postmus also explained the power dynamics involved in economic or financial abuse, where one partner uses control over money to instill fear, limit a victim's autonomy, and prevent them from leaving an abusive situation.

“It was such a unique experience to engage in writing with people asking questions about financial abuse and empowerment,” Postmus said. “The questions were challenging and thought-provoking. It made for a great 2-hour time period for me to talk about my research.”

The AMA event with Postmus opened a meaningful conversation on economic abuse and its impact on individuals and communities. It provided insight into how social workers and other human services employees can help and empower victims of economic abuse. It also served as an educational resource for individuals currently subjected to financial/economic abuse. UMSSW is committed to continuing this dialogue and providing resources to support those affected by economic and domestic abuse.