TEEN DATING TEEN DATING VIOLENCEVIOLENCE

FACTSFACTS

For School PersonnelFor School Personnel

Dating violence cuts across race, Dating violence cuts across race, gender and socioeconomic linesgender and socioeconomic lines

Girls more likely to yell threaten to hurt Girls more likely to yell threaten to hurt themselves, pinch, slap, scratch or kickthemselves, pinch, slap, scratch or kick

Boys injure girls more severely and Boys injure girls more severely and frequentlyfrequently

Some victims experience violence Some victims experience violence occasionallyoccasionally

Others are abused more often…Others are abused more often…sometimes dailysometimes daily

Teens are at higher risk than adultsTeens are at higher risk than adults

Females 16-24 are at highest riskFemales 16-24 are at highest risk

Approximately 1 in 5 female high school Approximately 1 in 5 female high school students report being abused physically students report being abused physically and or sexuallyand or sexually

94% of the time the abuse is from a 94% of the time the abuse is from a current or former boyfriend or girlfriendcurrent or former boyfriend or girlfriend

Half of the reported date rapes occur Half of the reported date rapes occur among teens.among teens.

Parent AwarenessParent Awareness

81% of parents surveyed either believe 81% of parents surveyed either believe teen dating violence is not an issue or teen dating violence is not an issue or admit they don’t know if it is an issue.admit they don’t know if it is an issue.

A Majority of parents (54%) admit they A Majority of parents (54%) admit they have not spoken to their children about have not spoken to their children about dating violence.dating violence.

TEEN AwarenessTEEN Awareness

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

INCIDENT REPORTINGINCIDENT REPORTING

Female students when asked whom they would Female students when asked whom they would talk to if they were a victim:talk to if they were a victim:

1.1. 86% would confide in a friend.86% would confide in a friend.

2.2. 7% would talk to the police7% would talk to the police

3.3. 83% reported they would rather talk to a friend 83% reported they would rather talk to a friend than a teacher, parent, or counselorthan a teacher, parent, or counselor

Only 33% of victims ever told anyone about the Only 33% of victims ever told anyone about the abuse.abuse.

WARNING SIGNSWARNING SIGNS

Since starting to date each other one of the Since starting to date each other one of the student begins to have attendance issues.student begins to have attendance issues.

Sudden drop in gradesSudden drop in grades

Sudden request to change scheduleSudden request to change schedule

Female student has a sudden weight Female student has a sudden weight changechange

Student no longer hangs out with the Student no longer hangs out with the group or students they generally spent group or students they generally spent time with and instead hang out with one time with and instead hang out with one particular person.particular person.

WARNING SIGNSWARNING SIGNS

A change in behavior – more passive or A change in behavior – more passive or quieter than usual.quieter than usual.

One person seems to be controlling the One person seems to be controlling the other.other.

Dress and appearance change suddenlyDress and appearance change suddenly

Student has constant bruising Student has constant bruising

PREVENTION RecommendationsPREVENTION Recommendations

1 Talk to students about dating violence1 Talk to students about dating violence

2 Make the classroom a comfortable place 2 Make the classroom a comfortable place for your students to come talk to you about for your students to come talk to you about sensitive issuessensitive issues

RELATIONSHIP – RELATIONSHIPRELATIONSHIP – RELATIONSHIP

3 Follow and enforce school policy about 3 Follow and enforce school policy about what is not acceptablewhat is not acceptable

PREVENTION RecommendationsPREVENTION Recommendations

4. Demand that students treat each other 4. Demand that students treat each other with respect at all times.with respect at all times.

5. Prevent language that dehumanizes and 5. Prevent language that dehumanizes and sexually objectifies people.sexually objectifies people.

6. Talk to students about personal 6. Talk to students about personal responsibilityresponsibility

7. Stress the responsibility of bystanders 7. Stress the responsibility of bystanders when a teen dating violence incident when a teen dating violence incident occurs.occurs.

HOUSE BILL 121HOUSE BILL 121

District will have a dating violence policy.District will have a dating violence policy.

Districts will educate staff and students Districts will educate staff and students about the issue of teen dating violence.about the issue of teen dating violence.

WEBSITEWEBSITE

www.abanet.org/publiced/teendating.shtmlwww.abanet.org/publiced/teendating.shtml

American Bar AssociationAmerican Bar Association