Understanding Teen Dating Violence

What is domestic violence? Is it just a man hitting a woman? Is it leaving a mark on somebody? Well, domestic violence is described as a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner. Many people think that domestic violence is only classified as physical abuse. It's not. There are 7 main types of domestic violence. They are physical, verbal, sexual, emotional, financial, spiritual, and destructive habits. Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury for women between the ages of 15-44. Many people do not know this but teens are abused at a higher rate than adults. Why is that? 1 in 3 teens are victims of some type of dating violence that they may not realize. For some teens they may be in their first relationship and don’t quite understand what’s healthy and what is not healthy. Violence is a learned behavior and somebody who grows up in a home with domestic violence is much more likely to become an abuser or victims them self. A study shows children who are direct victims of abuse are 3 times more likely to become victims or abusers themselves.

But what about children who only hear the violence or are indirect victims? Studies show those children are 6 times more likely to end up in prison, become abusers, or become victims.  There are more ways teens are exposed to domestic violence than just their surroundings. We often forget that the media such as movies, shows, and music have huge impacts on our ways of thinking, and some of the biggest musical artists have hidden messages in their music. Eminem, Rhianna, Carrie Underwood, and even The Beatles, have dark messages we overlook because “it’s a great song” with a catchy beat. There’s a lack of resources and knowledge about teen dating violence in many communities, which is why we are so fortunate to have the KNOW MORE program in Fresno County.  The goal of the KNOW MORE program is to educate our teens and community about building healthy relationships. Explore our site to learn more about the program! 

– Anthony Vallejo, Youth Education Specialist