What Is Teen Dating Violence?

The National Resource Center on Domestic Violence defines teen dating violence as:
a pattern of actual or threatened acts of physical, sexual, verbal and/or emotional abuse, perpetrated by an adolescent against a current or former dating partner. The abusive teen uses this pattern of violent and coercive behavior—either in a heterosexual or homosexual dating relationship—in order to gain power and maintain control over the dating partner.

How Does This Happen?

Teen dating violence is influenced by how teenagers look at themselves and others. It often mirrors the abuse already present in the home. Young women often believe:

• they are responsible for solving problems in their relationships
• their boyfriend’s jealousy, possessiveness and even physical abuse, is “romantic.”
• abuse is “normal” because their friends are also being abused.
• there is no one to ask for help.

Source: Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence

The Problem Is Real

According to Soroptimist International:

• Fifty-seven percent (57%) of teens know someone who has been verbally, physically, or sexually abusive in a dating relationship.
• Women ages 16 to 24 experience the highest per capita rates of intimate violence.
• Forty-five percent (45%) of girls reported they had encountered some form of physical aggression during the course of dating.
• There are three different types of dating abuse: verbal/emotional, physical and sexual.

Click here for the Soroptimist white paper on Teen Dating Violence. (PDF)

WIT in the Community

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month and Women In Transition will be in the community educating the public through information tables and private trainings for corporations, agencies and educational institutions. We also will offer several opportunities for the public to seek additional information.

Women In Transition is developing a toolkit for professionals to use for screening and intervening. If you are interested in learning more about Teen Dating Violence or scheduling training, please contact Debasri Ghosh at 215-564-5301 x122 or click here to email.