Teen Dating Violence
1 in 3 high school relationships involve abuse. That means you or someone you know, whether you know it or not. Abuse can be verbal/emotional, physical andor sexual. Teens are the most at-risk age group for abuse. Everyone has a right to feel safe in their relationship! Spread the word, and help us end dating violence.
1/3 of high school students have been or will be involved in an abusive relationship (sexually, emotionallverbally, andor physically).
Only 33% of teens who were in abusive relationships told anyone.
6 out of 10 rapes of young women occur in their own home or a friend or relative’s home, not in a dark alley.
Nearly 1/4 of girls who have been in a relationship reported going further sexually than they wanted as a result of pressure.
Dating Violence is the leading cause of injury to women.
58% of rape survivors report being raped between ages of 12-24.
Approximately 68 % of young women know their rapist either as a boyfriend, friend or casual acquaintance.
50% of reported date rapes occur among teenagers.
Females 16-24 are four times more likely than the general population to be victims of partner violence.
About 40% of teenage girls ages 14-17 say they know someone their age who has been hit or beaten by a boyfriend.
A recent survey of schools found there were an estimated 4,000 incidents of rape or other sexual assault in public schools across the country. And in just one academic year!
Youths involved in same-sex dating are just as likely to experience dating violence as youths involved in opposite sex dating.
What you should know
Often times relationships don’t begin with warning signs, so it can be difficult to recognize when they are present. If you recognize some or all of these warning signs in your own relationship, understand that the behavior is not okay, or excusable. You always deserve to be treated equally, and have a right to feel safe in your relationships.
Attempts to control you
Gets jealous or accuses you of cheating
Expects you to check-in all the time (or calls and/or texts you constantly)
Embarrasses you or puts you down (shares inappropriate information about you)
Makes you feel like you don’t have a right to say no
Isolates you from family or friends
Pressures, threatens or forces unwanted sexual activity
Scares you by acting violently, yelling, breaking or throwing things, hitting and/or kicking
What you can do
Think your relationship may be unhealthy? Take the dating violence quiz.
If you or someone you know is currently in an abusive relationship, click here for resources and support.
Women Helping Women works with thousands of students and educators every year to educate and prevent dating violence. If you would like to learn more about our programs, or schedule a program, visit our Prevention and Education page.