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Contents |
Teen dating violence is defined as the physical, sexual, psychological, or emotional violence within a dating relationship.[1] According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the prevalence of teen dating violence is often misunderstood.[1] According to a 2009 nationwide survey, the CDC reports that 9.8% of high school students report that they have been deliberately physically hurt by their boyfriend or girlfriend in the preceding 12 months.[1]
For example, Jennifer Ann Crecente (September 9, 1987 – February 15, 2006), a victim of teen dating violence, was an 18-year-old high school honor student who was shot and killed in southwest Austin, Texas by an ex-boyfriend, Justin Crabbe on February 15, 2006. She was a camp counselor at SciTrek in Atlanta and hospital volunteer in Austin.[2] Jennifer Ann's Group, a public charity based in Atlanta, Georgia, was established in her name to educate young people about the prevalence of teen dating violence, how to identify these relationships and how to extricate themselves safely from such relationships.
While dating, domestic and sexual violence affect women regardless of their age, teens and young women are especially vulnerable. Young people ages 12 to 19 experience the highest rates of rape and sexual assault[3], and people age 18 and 19 experience the highest rates of stalking.
Approximately one in three adolescent girls in the United States is a victim of physical, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner – a figure that far exceeds victimization rates for other types of violence affecting youth[4].
Surveys indicate that the majority of American teens who have had sex wish they had waited. Among sexually active girls, two-thirds say they didn't want to lose their virginity when they did or that they had mixed feelings about it.[5]
Only a small percentage of women who had sex before age 18 said it was completely wanted. Just 1% chose to have sex when they were 13 or younger, 5% at 14 or 15 years old, and 10% at 16 or 17 years old. Another 42% reported that losing their virginity before age 18 was not completely wanted, while the remaining portion of the sample waited until age 18 or older to have sex (wanted, 22%; unwanted, 21%).[6]
A first sexual experience that was unwanted or not completely wanted was strongly associated with future divorce.[6] "If the sex was not completely wanted or occurred in a traumatic context, it's easy to imagine how that could have a negative impact on how women might feel about relationships, or on relationship skills," Anthony Paik, associate professor of sociology at the University of Iowa, said. "The experience could point people on a path toward less stable relationships."
In the United States, the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) states that "[p]olicymakers can play a role in preventing teen dating violence"[7] and lists those states that currently have laws requiring school boards to develop and adopt programs to address this issue. Further, according to NCSL "[i]n 2011 at least eight states have introduced legislation to address teen dating violence."[7] On January 31, 2011 President Obama proclaimed February, 2011 to be "National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month."[8] In 2006, the U.S. first recognized "National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week," sponsored by Senator Mike Crapo, to "increase public awareness and education of the prevalence of teen dating violence among our nation's teens." [9] The first week in February was so recognized through 2009. Beginning in 2010, Senator Crapo joined the Department of Justice in recognizing the month of February as Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month.[9]
Loveisrespect, National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline, created through by National Domestic Violence Hotline, is a 24-hour national Web-based and telephone resource was created to help teens (ages 13-18) experiencing dating abuse, and is the only helpline in the country serving all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.[10]
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