BY KANAEE JACKSON
As many people may know, February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness month. But what, exactly, is domestic violence when it comes to dating?
According to Break The Cycle's website, domestic violence is defined as "a pattern of behavior used to establish power and control over another person through fear and intimidation, often including the threat or use of violence." Other terms for domestic violence include intimate partner violence, battering, relationship abuse, spousal abuse, or family violence.
What many people don't know is that teen dating violence is found most common in young relationships. According to Break The Cycle, girls and young women between the ages of 16 and 24 experience the highest rate of intimate partner violence, almost triple the national average. Among female victims of intimate partner violence, 94% of those age 16-19 and 70% of those age 20-24 were victimized by a current or former boyfriend or girlfriend.
Most people say domestic violence is "when a guy beats up a girl" -- that's what people think when they hear about domestic violence. We posed several scenarios to students and let them decide: abuse, or not abuse?
Scenario #1: Girl breaks up with boy. He puts intimate photos on Twitter as retaliation
Result: 15 students said "abuse," 4 said "not abuse."
Scenario #2: Girl spreads rumors about her boyfriend because she's upset at him.
Results: 10 students said "abuse," 8 said "not abuse"
Scenario #3: Out on a group date, one partner buys food for everyone with them, but tells everyone that he/she won't buy anything for his/her date because they need to "watch their weight."
Results: 15 students said "abuse," 3 said "not abuse"
Scenario #4: Girl tries to leave during an argument; boy twists her arm to bring her back.
results:12 students said "abuse," 3 said "not abuse"
We seemed to be pretty clear when it comes to physical abuse, but it seems to be more of a gray area when it comes to the verbal and emotional abuse. We also notice when a guy abuses a girl, but what about when a girl abuses a guy? No matter what gender roles we've absorbed, abuse is abuse no matter which gender is doing it, This is why this kind of awareness is so important.
For more information on this subject go to: http://www.loveisrespect.org/ where you can share personal stories, talk to someone and relate to them. If you need advice, there is always someone to talk to, or you can call them at: 866-331-9474 or text them at "loveis" to "22522.".