Teen Dating Violence
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Myths and facts about teen dating violence
myth: it can't happen to me fact: More than 1 in 10 teenagers experience physical violence in their dating relationships. |
myth: jealousy and possessiveness are signs of true love fact: Jealousy and possessiveness are signs that the person sees you as a possession. It is the most common early warning sign of abuse. |
myth: teen dating violence isn't really that serious. it's just kids goofing around fact: 30% of all women who are murdered in this country are killed by their husband or boyfriend. According to a Massachusetts study, that same high percentage applies to teen women, aged 15-19. Also, 60% of all rapes reported to rape crisis centers are committed by acquaintances, and the majority of victims are aged 16-24. |
myth: men are abused by women just as often as women are abused by men fact: According to The U.S. Bureau of Justice statistics, 95% of the reported incidents of assaults in heterosexual relationships are committed by males. |
myth: alcohol causes men to be violent fact: Many men who abuse do not drink heavily, and many alcoholics do not beat their partners. Also, abusers who do drink don't necessarily give up their violent behavior when they give up drinking. While some abusers do beat their partners while they are drunk, the alcohol acts as their excuse but is not the cause of violence. |
myth: victims bring on the abuse themselves. they ask for it fact: Perpetrators believe they have the right to use abuse to control their partner, and they see the victim as less than equal to themselves. The victim has no control over the abuser. |
myth: if a person stays in an abusive relationship, it must not really be that bad fact: People stay in abusive relationships for a number of reasons: fear, economic dependence, confusion, loss of self-confidence, not recognizing what's happening is abuse, belief that the abuser needs their help or will change, etc. |
myth: most abusers are bums or crazy people fact: Abusers are found in all classes and types of people: rich, poor, professional, unemployed, black, white, urban, rural, etc. |
