Teen Dating & Violence

TRIGGER WARNING: Abuse, Domestic Violence

Teenagers are being pushed into situations of domestic violence at an increasingly younger age. The Domestic Abuse Hotline defines domestic violence as “a pattern of behaviors used to gain or maintain power and control in any type of relationship.” This could be a sibling, guardian, or even romantic relationship.

As young people enter into the dating world, they should be knowledgeable about the dangers of abuse, but the romanization of it in the media has blurred the lines between healthy and abusive relationships and created a lack of knowledge about what abuse can look like.

Abuse is a cycle. While the offender might apologize, and the victim experiences a period of ‘peace’, their abuser is almost guaranteed to repeat their actions. This period of ‘peace’ is called the “Honeymoon Phase”. After a while, the tension will build again, and the abuser will explode and continue their maltreatment.

Abuse does not have to be physical, it can be emotional, verbal, or mental. Examples of these types of abuse are name-calling, humiliation, or dictating the victims action.

The latter is especially common during adolescence, with the offender telling the victim who they can or cannot talk to. Whether it be in person or over the phone, this is to isolate the victim so they have no support system to turn to when the abuse worsens.

Individuals who believe they are in abusive situations should call the hotline or 911 is in immediate danger.

Stories by: Teagan Willyard

Resources

800-799-7233 domestic abuse HOTLINE: DATING abuse HOTLINE: 866-331-9474

TEEN DATING abuse HOTLINE: 866-331-9474

Red flags in relationships

In recent years, abusive relationships have been romanticized in media specifically targeted toward adolescents. The normalization of these toxic actions in social media or television, whether it be intentional or not, is pushing children into abusive relationships, unable to recognize the signs before it is too late. Here are some signs according to the national center of domestic and sexual violence to watch for in a relationship:

• Excessive jealousy

• Constantly checking in on you and requiring you to check in with them

• Isolating you from friends and family

• Insulting people you care about

• Too serious too quickly

• Has lots of bad prior relationships and blames the ex-partners for all of the issues

• Is controlling, including telling you what you can and cannot wear or to whom you can talk or demanding passwords to accounts

• Excuses controlling behavior as being protective

• Blames you when they mistreat you by telling you how you provoked them

• Has an explosive temper

• Pressures you to do sexual activity you are not comfortable with

• Has a history of fighting or hurting animals or brags about hurting people

• You have anxiety or even keep things from your partner because you fear provoking mistreatment

• Has a strong belief in sterotypical gender roles

• Refuses to let you end the relationship

deSIGN By KAtie Wright and Addison Warford