Lena Echer ’27
EE Staff Writer
While the month of February is often associated with love, because of Valentine’s Day, and remembrance, as it is Black History Month, it is also Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. With such a focus on romance and happy couples (or heartbreak, depending on who you ask), it is important to also shine a light on the grave issue of dating violence among teens. Unfortunately, intimate partner violence is a threat to people of all ages, but it can be particularly harmful for teenagers, making it even more important to spread awareness.
Dating violence is a serious problem in the U.S. for millions of teens. According to the American Psychological Association, it is estimated that about 19% of teenagers experience violence from a partner, and that 50% have experienced stalking or harassment.
It is important to note here that girls experience dating violence at a significantly higher rate than boys. However, all genders can be victims of abuse. Additionally, the CDC reports that about 1 in 12 teens experience physical violence and 1 in 10 experience sexual violence in their relationship. These numbers might not look like much, but they represent millions of teenagers across the nation. And while teen dating violence is overlooked more than abuse in adult relationships, it is no less important.
There are many forms that teen dating violence can come in. Stalking and harassment are common, as well as psychological abuse. This can include things such as threatening one’s partner or attempting to control them. Other forms are physical and sexual violence. Many cases of violence don’t get reported because the victims are scared of telling someone.
The damage caused by relationship violence can be very severe for teenagers, who are still developing as people. Those who experience this abuse are much more likely to experience anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues. They are more likely to start abusing substances such as alcohol and drugs. Additionally, they are more likely to have suicidal thoughts, self-harm, and attempt suicide. And these are just the short-term effects.
The scary thing about teen dating violence is that it begins to set up the relationships teens will have later, in their adult lives. Victims are more likely to be victimized again, while perpetrators of violence are more likely to continue that behavior into adulthood. This makes for relationship problems all through life unless a lot of work is done on oneself.
To try to stop the violence teens often experience in relationships may seem like an impossible task, but there are ways to help prevent it. One of the best ways is to teach teens the skills they need to have healthy relationships, such as emotional regulation, conflict management, and healthy communication strategies. There are also many online resources that can help if you or someone you know is experiencing dating violence.
However, the biggest way we can help to end the dating violence problem is to change the culture that enables it. Far too often, students reporting sexual harassment and other forms of violence are dismissed, or even blamed over the victim, by the very people who are supposed to prevent it – namely, teachers, administrators, and even parents. And when teens who commit dating violence are not held responsible, it reinforces the idea that this is something they can get away with.
No one deserves to be in a violent relationship. As we come to the end of the month of love, let us not forget the issue that many kids our age face. Millions experience abuse from a partner every year in the U.S., but together we can make these numbers decrease. It is up to us to continue to reshape our society, so that the teens of future generations will not have to experience any form of dating violence.