Did you know that in the United States, according to the Office of Juvenile Justice, up to 19% of teens experience sexual or physical dating violence, about half face stalking or harassment, and as many as 65% report being psychologically abused by their dating partner?
February is recognized as Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. It is critical that part of the conversation regarding domestic violence includes discussion of what is happening with our youth when it comes to relationships and how to best support them.
Despite the statistics listed above, 81% of parents believe teen dating violence is not an issue or admit they don’t know it’s an issue. If parents and caregivers don’t believe it, then it is understandable why 33% of teens who were in an abusive relationship never told anyone about the abuse. This data comes from Loveisrespect.org, a website for youth and those that support them to better understand the issue of dating violence and how to get help.
Social media and technology are a weapon of choice among abusers. They track their victim’s location, accuse them of seeing other people based on what is on their social media accounts, and bully them into taking compromising photos and then using them for revenge or intimidation to get the victim to do what they want. Parents need to better understand the social media their kids are using and start conversations about protecting themselves.
Ask your teens about their relationships and listen when they talk about their friends’ relationships. You never know if they’re talking about themselves or asking for advice about how to help their friend. Having a safe adult in a youth’s life greatly reduces their chances of being a victim of dating violence. Having someone to help guide them in understanding what a healthy relationship is like and what their rights are helps youth set boundaries.
Educate yourself. Talk to your kids. Check out loveisrespect.org for more information.
— Suzi Pearson
Executive Director, Abused Women’s Aid In Crisis
Anchorage
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