TEEN DATING VIOLENCE

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TEEN DATING VIOLENCE

• FACTS
• For Parents

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Dating violence cuts across race, gender and
socioeconomic lines

• Girls more likely to yell threaten to hurt
  themselves, pinch, slap, scratch or kick
• Boys injure girls more severely and frequently
• Some victims experience violence occasionally
• Others are abused more often sometimes daily

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• Teens are at higher risk than adults
• Females 16-24 are at highest risk
• Approximately 1 in 5 female high school students
  report being abused physically and or sexually
• 94 of the time the abuse is from a current or
  former boyfriend or girlfriend
• Half of the reported date rapes occur among teens.

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Parent Awareness

• 81 of parents surveyed either believe teen
  dating violence is not an issue or admit they
  dont know if it is an issue.
• A Majority of parents (54) admit they have not
  spoken to their children about dating violence.

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TEEN Awareness

• 25 of 14-17 year olds know at least one student
  who is a victim, 11 know multiple victims, 33
  have witnessed violence.
• 20 of male students witnessed another student
  hit the person they were dating.
• 39 of female students report talking about
  whether someone is trying to control the person
  they are dating.
• 57 of teens know someone who has been physically
  abused.

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INCIDENT REPORTING

• Female students when asked whom they would talk
  to if they were a victim
• 86 would confide in a friend.
• 7 would talk to the police
• 83 reported they would rather talk to a friend
  than a teacher, parent, or counselor
• Only 33 of victims ever told anyone about the
  abuse.

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WARNING SIGNS

• Since dating this person your teen drops
  activities that were important to them
• Grades begin to fall often to failing
• Change in body language, slouching, biting nails,
  little or no eye contact.
• Uncharacteristic change in clothing and/or makeup
• Contact bruises for which no logical explanation
  fits.

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WARNING SIGNS

• Teen is not eating, talking or acting as they
  normally would.
• Sudden mood changes.
• Daughter stopped seeing friends and family.
• You know your teens girlfriends or boyfriend has
  a temper
• When your daughters boyfriend is around you, you
  notice he calls her names and puts her down.

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PREVENTION Recommendations

• Spend time with your teen.
• Talk to your teen listen listen listen
• It is okay if they get mad you ask questions.
  Dont stop asking.
• Do not prejudge your teens friends.
• Talk to your kids about healthy relationships.

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PREVENTION Recommendations

• Communicate to your children that both sexes are
  equal.
• Be a role model for your children
• Establish a trusting relationship with your
  child.
• Be a detective without violating your kids
  privacy.
• Teens need you to be a parent not their friend.

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HOUSE BILL 121

• District will have a dating violence policy.
• Districts will educate staff and students about
  the issue of teen dating violence.

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WEBSITE

• www.abanet.org/publiced/teendating.shtml
• American Bar Association