Teen Dating Violence
Adrian Hernandez
Statistics
- Roughly 1.5 million high school boys and girls in the U.S. admit to being intentionally hit or physically harmed in the last year by someone they are romantically involved with.
- Teens who suffer dating abuse are subject to long-term consequences like alcoholism, eating disorders, promiscuity, thoughts of suicide, and violent behavior.
- 50 percent of young people who experience rape or physical or sexual abuse will attempt to commit suicide.
Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse is when someone forces you into unwanted sexual activity, especially through threats. In a healthy sexual relationship, you shouldn't feel threatened, pressured, or uncomfortable with your partner. If you feel these negative emotions, it is likely that you are being abused.
Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse often includes verbal abuse. It also involves the abuser taking complete control over the life of the person she or he is abusing, often by making threats or otherwise manipulating that person.
Verbal Abuse
Verbal abuse is often insulting and humiliating, with the abuser making fun of or ridiculing the target.
Financial Abuse
- Controlling all money, using money to threaten or manipulate
- Controlling possessions like: a car, phones, clothes, jewelry
- Excessive gift giving with strings attached, for example “I gave you this, now you owe me”
- Using gifts to make up for abusive behavior
- Sabotaging a partner’s work or school career, for example harassing a partner at work and causing them to get fired or refusing to give a partner a ride to work or school, etc.
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse occurs when someone physically hurts you. This can be hitting you or throwing something at you. Even if someone only hits you once or doesn't hurt you that badly, it is a big deal.