Teen Dating Violence Awareness

While the issue of domestic violence has gained greater recognition over the last few years, teen dating violence and abuse remains an issue that often goes unrecognized or not discussed by many parents and teens. Attorney General Gansler is urging teens, parents, and educators to take the time to learn how to recognize the signs of dating violence and abuse so they can help prevent it.

Teen dating violence is not just physical abuse. Abuse can take many forms including threats, emotional and sexual abuse, extreme jealousy, and isolation from friends and family. Almost any tactic used to control a partner can constitute dating abuse or violence. According to information from the House of Ruth, one in four teens will be in an abusive relationship.

Getting a peace order: www.djs.state.md.us/policies/Directive_01-10.pdf General Information web sites: www.hruth.org www.peoples-law.org/domviol/dating/dating.htm www.chooserespect.org www.loveisnotabuse.com For Teens: www.loveisrespect.org/ For Parents: www.loveisnotabuse.com/made/index.html WHERE TO CALL FOR HELP House of Ruth Maryland 410-889-7884 Maryland Youth Crisis Hotline 800-422-0009 Maryland Domestic Violence Hotline 800-634-3577 National Domestic Violence Hotline 800-799-7233

Try the Attorney General’s Teen Dating Violence Quiz:
(Click here for printable Quiz)

1. What percentage of teens report being in a dating relationship?
a) 25 percent
b) 37 percent
c) 50 percent
d) 89 percent

2. Which one of these is a form of abusive behavior:
a) verbal name calling or putdowns
b) pinching, slapping or hitting your girlfriend / boyfriend
c) threatening to hurt themselves or their partner
d) forcing someone into sexual activity against his / her will

3. What percentage of teens say they are text-messaged 10, 20 or 30 times an hour by a partner inquiring where they are, what they’re doing, or who they’re with:
a) 20
b) 30
c) 40
d) 50

4. What percentage of teen girls know someone who was physically abused by a dating partner?
a) 10
b) 20
c) 30
d) 40

5. How many teenage girls are physically or sexually abused by a dating partner?
a) One in ten
b) One in six
c) One in five
d) One in three

6. What is the most common age group for victims of sexual assault?
a) 12-16
b) 16-19
c) 20-25
d) 25-30

7. Adolescent abusers report that their violence served to:
a) intimidate their partner
b) frighten their partner
c) force their partner to give them something
d) all of the above

8.True or False:
Teenagers often report abuse to their parents or school counselors.

9.Where does teen dating violence most commonly occur?
a) at school
b) in vehicles
c) at home
d) on the internet

10.True or False:
There's nothing I can do about teen dating violence.

ANSWERS

1. d) 89 percent of teens 13 to18 years old reported being in a dating relationship.

2. All of the above. Approximately one in four youth reports experiencing some form of dating abuse – verbal, emotional, physical or sexual.

3. 30 percent. As technologies like cellphones and social networking become the norm for communication, they can also be used for abuse and control.

4. d) 40 percent of teen girls reported knowing someone who was physically abused by a dating partner.

5. c) One in five, or 20 percent, of teen girls have been physically or sexually abused by a dating partner.

6. b) Teens between the ages of 16 and 19 are 3.5 times more likely than the general
population to be victims of rape, attempted rape or sexual assault.

7. d) All of the above. When self-reported teen abusers were questioned about the intention and impact of their actions, 25 to 33 percent of them admitted their violence intimidated, frightened or forced their partner to give them something.

8. False. Only six percent of girls and 11 percent of boys experiencing severe abuse tell an authority figure. If they tell anyone, most of these young people tell their friends about abuse.

9. c) At home. Teen dating violence most commonly occurs at the home of the victim or abuser.

10. False. Everyone can do something to help end teen dating violence. See the list of resources above.

(Click here for printable Quiz)