Teen dating violence

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Teen dating violence is a pattern of controlling behavior by one teenager over another teenager who are in a dating relationship. The behavior includes, but is not limited to, physical abuse, emotional abuse, and sexual abuse. Although according to a single poll 40% of teenagers in the United States claim to know somebody that is in an abusive relationship^[1], most parents do not recognize teen dating violence as a significant issue^[2].

While there are many similarities to dating violence among adults there are also some differences. Teens are much more likely than adults to become isolated from their peers as the result of controlling behavior by their boyfriend/girlfriend. Also, for many teens the abusive relationship may be their first dating experience and have never had a "normal" dating experience with which to compare it.

Contents 1 Some Types of Abuse 2 U.K. Organizations 3 U.S. Statistics of Dating Violence for Teens and Preteens 4 Warning Signs of an Abusive Relationship[18] 5 Efforts 6 Why teenage girls date guys who abuse them 7 References

[edit] Some Types of Abuse

• Physical abuse - hitting somebody or preventing them from leaving
• Emotional and verbal abuse - name calling, humiliation or attempts to undermine self-esteem^[3]
• Sexual abuse - coerced or forced sex
• Threats - threatening retaliation or threatening to leave the relationship
• Isolation - not allowing partner to spend time with others in order to isolate them from friends and family
• Harassment - repeated phone calls, text messages or other forms of communication

[edit] U.K. Organizations

• The Hideout - www.thehideout.org.uk ^[4]
• Women's Aid - www.womensaid.org.uk ^[5]
• Respect - www.respect.uk.net ^[6]

[edit] U.S. Statistics of Dating Violence for Teens and Preteens

• 20% of children between the ages of 11 and 14 say their friends are victims of dating violence ^[7]

• 40% of children between the ages of 11 and 14 in relationships know friends who are verbally abused^[8]

• 34% of teens that are sexually active by age 15 have been physically abused^[9]

• 20% of all teens in relationships have been physically abused^[10]

• 33% of all teens have been affected by Teen Dating Violence^[11]

• Teenagers are victimized by dating violence at a higher rate than adults^[12]

• One-third of all students have been in an abusive relationship by the time they graduate from college^[13]

• A research study in the July 2008 issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine shows that 44% of all students have been in an abusive relationship by the time they graduate from college, 22% of all males and at least 50% of females. This same study shows that male respondents had higher rates of sexual violence than women (2.6% vs. 1%), but that female respondents reported higher rates of physical violence than men (7.3% vs 1.8%) ^[14]

• A peer reviewed 1986 study of 500 college students by Billingham and Stack^[15] found that 9% of female respondents had used severe violence against a boyfriend or husband, while 3% of male respondents had used severe violence against a girlfriend or wife.

• A peer reviewed study from 2001 by Watson et al.^[16], of 475 high school students (266 males, 209 females), found that 45.6% of respondents had suffered violence from a boyfriend or girlfriend, but that only 9% had suffered "exclusive victimization" where they had been physically abused, but had never physically abused their partner. Watson et al. also reported that female students showed substantially higher rates of overall aggression than male students: females were more likely to fight back when abused (42% vs. 26%), and less likely to do nothing in response to physical abuse (24% of boys in the study never fought back against abusive girlfriends, vs. 6% of girls who never fought back against abusive boyfriends). Watson et al. also reported that girls were more likely to break up with an abuser (28% vs. 21%).

• 30% of all murdered teenage girls are murdered by a current or former partner^[17]

[edit] Warning Signs of an Abusive Relationship^[18]

• History of legal or discipline problems
• Blames partner for his/her anger
• Serious drug or alcohol use
• History of violent behavior
• Threatens others regularly
• Insults or calls partner names
• Trouble controlling feelings like anger
• Tells partner what to wear, what to do or how to act
• Threatens or intimidates in order to get their way
• Prevents partner from spending time with their friends or family

[edit] Efforts

• In 2006 Idaho Senator Mike Crapo authored legislation declaring the first week in February as National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Week. ^[19] For 2009, National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week is February 2 - 6, 2009. ^[20]

• On July 19, 2007 Texas Governor Rick Perry signed HB 121 requiring all school districts in Texas to adopt formal policies regarding Teen Dating Violence. The law was prompted by the murders of high school students Jennifer Ann Crecente and Ortalla Mosley. ^[21]

• At the 2008 Summer Meeting of the National Association of Attorneys General, Attorneys General from across the nation passed a resolution encouraging schools to develop teen dating violence awareness curriculum. It was inspired by the death of Lindsay Ann Burke, a 23-year-old Rhode Islander murdered by her ex-boyfriend in 2005.^[22]

• On July 2, 2008 Florida Governor Charlie Crist signed legislation giving dating violence victims the same rights under the law as domestic abuse victims. The new law is named for Tiffany Barwick, 19, and friend, Michael Ruschak, 22, who were murdered by Barwick's ex-boyfriend Andrew Allred.^[23]

• On September 18, 2008 Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott announced that his office is helping fund a National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline campaign to raise awareness of unhealthy dating behaviors and signs of emotional and physical abuse. ^[24] Wallet cards with warning signs are available to schools and non-profit organizations for no charge through http://www.JenniferAnn.org Jennifer Ann's Group.

[edit] Why teenage girls date guys who abuse them

The "nice guys finish last" view is that there is a discrepancy between women's stated preferences and their actual choices in men: in other words, women say that they want nice guys, but really go for men who are "jerks", or "bad boys" in the end. Desrochers (1995) claims that many "sensitive" men do not believe that women want "nice guys" due to their personal experiences.^[25]

The Onion, which normally writes satire, did a very realistic, accurate article about the "nice guy" syndrome called "But If We Started Dating It Would Ruin Our Friendship Where I Ask You To Do Things And You Do Them." In the article, a woman says to her male friend, "I really like you. I do. You're so nice, and sweet, and you listen to all my problems and respond with the appropriate compliments. But, well, I don't really see a relationship in our future. It would be terrible if we let sex destroy this great friendship we have where I get everything I want and you get nothing you want... Think about how awful my last relationship was at the end, remember? The guy I'd call you crying about at 3 a.m. because he wouldn't answer my texts? The guy I met at the birthday party you threw me? I had insanely passionate sex with him for four months and now we don't even talk anymore. God, I would die if something like that happened to us... You're so funny and smart and amazing, any girl but me would be lucky to date you."^[26]

[edit] References