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Get the Facts on Teen Dating Violence...
Because Love Isn't Supposed to Hurt...
What Do We Mean When We Talk about Dating Violence?
Dating violence isn't an argument every once in a while or a bad mood after a bad day.
Dating violence (or relationship violence) is a pattern of violent behavior that someone uses against a girlfriend or boyfriend.
Abuse can cause injury and even death, but it doesn't have to be physical. It can include verbal and emotional abuse - constant insults, isolation from friends and family, name calling, controlling what someone wears - and it can also include sexual abuse.
It can happen to anyone, at any age, regardless of race, religion, level of education, or economic background. Dating violence also occurs in same-sex relationships.
Did You know...
Physical and sexual abuse against adolescent girls in dating relationships increases the likelihood that the girl will abuse drugs and/or alcohol, develop an eating disorder, consider and/or attempt suicide, engage in risky sexual behavior, and/or become pregnant.
Hitting your girlfriend or boyfriend is a crime, just like robbery or rape - it's against the law.
40% of teenage girls ages 14 to 17 report knowing someone their age who has been hit or beaten by a boyfriend.
Violent relationships begin at an average age of 15.
1 in 3 teenagers experiences physical violence in their dating relationships.
Dating Violence Quiz: Test Your Relationship:
Does Your Partner...
• Embarrass you with bad names and put-downs?
• Look at you or act in ways that scare you?
• Control what you do, who you see or talk to, or where you go?
• Stop you from seeing or talking to friends or family?
• Take your money, make you ask for money, or refuse to give
you money?
• Make all the decisions?
• Tell you you're a bad person?
• Act like the abuse is no big deal, it's your fault, or even deny
doing it?
• Destroy your property or threaten to hurt your pets?
• Intimidate you with weapons?
• Shove you, slap you, or hit you?
• Force or coerce you to have sex?
• Threaten to break up with you?
• Threaten to hurt you?
If you checked even one of these boxes, you may be in an abusive dating relationship. If you need to talk, call us.
24 Hour Hotline
(214) 946-HELP
Support is free and confidential.
What Can You Do?
Helping Your Friends...
DO: Help your friends. Make sure they know they are not alone.
DO: Listen without judging. They may feel reponsible, ashamed, inadequate and afraid.
DO: Tell them that it is NOT their fault.
DO: Suggest they develop a safety plan. They need to know a safe place to run to, a support number to call, and who they can trust in an emergency.
DO: Help them identify resources. Encourage them to take care of themselves, get emotional support, and build their self-esteem.
DO: Encourage them to call for help. Genesis Womens Shelter has counseling and safety planning for teens in abusive dating relationships. Let your friends know there are people who can help.
Teen Dating Brochure
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