Let’s Talk About Teen Dating Violence
You’re at a family gathering. Your kids trade TikToks with cousins while you pass out cookies and cider. Your 14-year-old, John, walks into the kitchen when Uncle Pete yells, “I heard someone has a girlfriend!” “Oohs” and “aahs” fill the room. John, red faced, spins around to get the heck out. Uncle Pete calls after him, “You make sure you’re treating that girl right!” Maybe Uncle Pete is teasing, but what if you took the question seriously: Is John treating his girlfriend “right?” Is he being treated “right?” What does “right” look like? What about “wrong?” February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. So, let’s tackle some common questions. What is teen dating violence? It’s easy to go on the defense - John is your son, he would never hurt a fly. But teen dating violence isn’t only physical. Dating abuse is a pattern of behaviors meant to gain power over a partner. Abuse can take many forms: physical, psychological, emotional, sexual, and online. About 1 in 3 teens experiences some kind of dating abuse in the United States. In teen relationships, abusive control could include: Telling a partner not to spend time with friends or family Asking them to repeatedly skip activities to spend time together instead Needing to know where they are always Accusing [...]