Teen dating violence

Violence among teens in the dating field is not nearly talked about as much as it should be. According to cdc.gov, “Teen dating violence can be physical, emotional, or sexual, and includes stalking.” The CDC also says that eight percent of high school students have reported physical violence, and 7 percent said they had experienced sexual violence. 

Teen dating violence is used to force another to do what the aggressor wants. It can stem from the dangerous notion that while dating in high school, you and your partner are each other halves. You can’t live without them. This is a point of manipulation; people use “love” as a way to coerce someone into doing something they don’t want to do. 

Some examples of dating violence and ways to recognize it are listed by michigan.gov, including cutting off victim’s relationships with others, threatening to leave the victim or hurt themselves if their partner doesn’t do what they want, slapping/beating/grabbing etc. or forcing the victim to participate in unwanted sexual activity. 

There are places to find help. There are hotlines, such as the National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233), or visit websites such as loveisrespect.org. 

While every relationship has its ups and downs, it’s important to recognize when it turns into violence, and do what’s best for you to stay safe.