Becky’s Fund Welcomes Natalie

My name is Natalie Smith and I am originally from Denver, Colorado. I am in the final year of my bachelor’s degree in Gender & Diversity studies, which I have been working to complete abroad in Germany.

At my university, I previously held workshops to educate others about the prevalence of sexual and domestic violence as well as discuss preventative measures. Due to this, I became very interested in the work Becky’s Fund does to specifically address IPV before it takes place and to support survivors.

My course of study has further increased my interest in and knowledge of violence prevention. My interests include modern masculinity culture and the sexualization and objectification of women in the media, which I believe contribute to the prevalence of IPV. I have also developed an interest in the area of economic abuse, specifically coerced credit. The advancement of technology coupled with the increased use of credit cards has made it easier to perpetrate violence that affects victims financially. This violence has long-lasting consequences that the justice system does not yet have adequate solutions to address. In addition, I am very interested in the intersectionality of domestic violence and disability, age, race, etc.

I hope to develop my skills in the areas of research, fundraising, and grant writing, as well as further my knowledge in my areas of interest regarding domestic violence and its prevention. It is my hope that the intricate understanding of domestic violence I gain will be beneficial to me in my future career.