Youth Issues
Understanding Dating Abuse:
Abuse can be verbal, emotional, physical or sexual. Abuse happens when your partner chooses to hurt and control you.
Abuse can happen in any relationship gay or straight.
Recent surveys show that 28% of students have experienced violence in a dating relationship. That's more than one in every four students.
Dating abuse can happen to anyone no matter where they live or what kind of home they come from.
It can be very difficult to leave an abuser. People need support, safety and assistance in order to leave.
Ask yourself the following questions:
- Does your boyfriend or girlfriend put you down often, but say "I love you"?
- Do you have to justify everything you do, every place you go, or every person you see to avoid your boyfriend's or girlfriend's anger?
- Does your boyfriend or girlfriend show extreme jealousy or possessiveness toward you?
- Are you frightened by your boyfriend or girlfriend?
- Are you afraid to disagree?
- Have you ever been hit, kicked, shoved, or had things thrown at you?
- Have you been forced into having sexual contact when you didn't want to?
- Are you afraid to break up because your boyfriend or girlfriend has threatened to hurt you or him/herself?
If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you may be in a relationship with an abuser. It is important to be safe. People are available to help if you if you want to talk.
How to help friends:
Let them know the abuse is not their fault.
Let them know they don't deserve to be abused.
Show them you believe what they are telling you.
Be supportive, but don't tell them what to do.
Let them decide.
Offer to go with them to talk to someone who can help.
Continue to be there for them even if they don't leave the relationship.
Don't gossip, it could put your friend in danger.
You or your friend may call The Next Step for information and support 24 hours a day. Collect calls are also accepted.
You can't fix the problem, but you can be a good friend by just listening.
You have the right…
- To express your opinions and have them be respected.
- To be yourself, not who your partner wants you to be.
- To change your mind.
- To set limits for physical closeness.
- To know you are not responsible for your partner's behavior.
- To break up and fall out of love with someone and not be threatened.
- To be safe.
Remember there is no excuse for dating abuse.
