Love is Not Abuse, a program of our founding sponsor Liz Claiborne,
has revealed the findings of their recent study of dating abuse among
college students. The results? Dating violence and abuse among college
students is more prevalent on college campuses than previously believed.
According to the findings, a significant number of college women are victims of dating violence.
- 43% of dating college women report experiencing abusive dating behaviors including physical, sexual, tech, verbal or controlling abuse.
- Nearly 1 in 3 (29%) college women say they have been in an abusive dating relationship.
- More than half (57%) of college students who report experiencing dating violence said it occurred in college.
Young adult dating violence is a big problem, affecting youth in every community across the nation.
- Nearly 1.5 million high school students nationwide experience physical abuse from a dating partner in a single year.
- One in three adolescents in the U.S. is a victim of physical, sexual, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner, a figure that far exceeds rates of other types of youth violence.
- One quarter of high school girls have been victims of physical or sexual abuse.
- Girls and young women between the ages of 16 and 24 experience the highest rate of intimate partner violence -- almost triple the national average.
- Violent behavior typically begins between the ages of 12 and 18
- Violent relationships in adolescence can have serious ramifications by putting the victims at higher risk for substance abuse, eating disorders, risky sexual behavior and further domestic violence.
- Half of youth who have been victims of both dating violence and rape, attempt suicide compared to 12.5% of non-abused girls and 5.4% of non-abused boys.
While many of us know that abuse is wrong, how many of us may be doing it and not even realizing that our actions are borderline abusive? Take the "Am I a good partner?" quiz and find out if maybe you're the problem in your relationships. The quiz is from the Loveisrespect.org website that also has a lot of great information on how to tell is a relationship is abusive or healthy, and resources on improving your communication.
Am I a good partner? Quiz
Blog why you think dating violence among young adults is on the rise.
Steroids...... And crack!
ReplyDeletePeople these days are crazy! I didn't really realize people were that crazy though I think you have to be mentally ill to tell your girlfriend exactly what classes she can and cannot take. So I'm gonna say DRUGS including Steriods so lots and lots of food rage.
because more and more people are self centered and all about "me". Plus commitment and not having control ends up being problematic with people so they either forcibly take control or tend not to deal with issues. That is my opinion based on what i have personally seen, but i am sure there is way more to it and what not.
ReplyDeleteI think dating among young adults is on the rise because of all the social networks, i guess it can make people insecure in a way? i feel like people shouldn't be in a relationship to begin with if they aren't happy within themselves, because if you're not happy how are you supposed to try and make your partner happy?
ReplyDeleteI think that dating violence is on the rise because of the rising ammounts of pressure on college age students. Students feel certain pressures to conform and/or perform up to certain standards. This pressure adds alot of stress and increases the chances of a relationship becoming violent... I would have to agree that its a possibility that social networks have also contributed to this trend. People may be lacking the ability to hold personal relationships and be sensitive towards others expressed feelings.
ReplyDeleteI think that violence among young adults is on the rise for many reasons, attending to college is a big responsibility and it can be very stressful. It could be that have always existed but we did not know about it because there was not that many ways of communication like there is today. It can be for lack of experience and good family structure. There are many reasons why people behave certain ways.
ReplyDeleteIs it bad that every question that popped up reminded me of my ex?
ReplyDeleteKids now a days believe anything they see on tv, include mostly everything on MTV. when kids see nothing but violence and drugs, they will think that it is ok to do it as well. when a teen sees adults fighting and arguing with there loved ones, the kid will again think that it is ok to do it as well. this is the reason why teens are becoming more negligent to there partner because they think that its cool or ok to do it. there are so many things that link together such as media, parents, role models, and other things that teens look up to, these links can show negativity which can impact teens in ways to where they want to do the samething.
ReplyDeleteI think the main reason its becoming more common in young adults is because they don't have good examples, know what to do or how to handle that anger they have. They may have been brought up in an unstable environment, or they're just having a bad day, either way, something is wrong, and they don't know how to handle it.
ReplyDeleteIn this modern age there is a push to be in a relationship. This may be due to a need for acceptance or the need for someone to feel wanted. Media and popular culture helped to create this. Whatever the cause though once someone is in a relationship they want to stay there because to them, being in any relationship may be better than being single. While the desire to be in a relationship is normal, wanting to stay in an abusive relationship is unhealthy. A number of people search for excuses to the abusive relationship because they don't want to admit to themselves or others that there are in such a relationship.
ReplyDeleteI think dating violence among young adults is on the rise because at this point in a person’s lifetime they are at a point where they are susceptible to persuasion and environment in trying to determine and solidify the very important questions that youth proposes: who am I? and what is my identity?
ReplyDeleteIn trying to determine this, as a girl, I can say that we can at times be perceived as weak. I say this because social media, and media in general, is telling us what women should be like; i.e. tall, thin, beautiful, etc. this puts a pressure on girls to be so while also trying to do well in school, dealing with peer pressure, possibly being introduced to drugs or alcohol, and also while trying to seek the compassion of a partner. If a person is not solidified with who they are and what they are about they can find themselves in situations where abuse may occur. A young girl may also not know enough about what a relationship is supposed to be like if they are just experiencing one for the first time during this significant time of one’s life; she may not know that she is being abused sexually, verbally, etc. because of this lack of experience. I feel it is very important for young adults to be confident in who they are because that is key to being in a relationship and sharing that with your partner; if you have respect for yourself, your partner will have respect for you AND if they do not then you know well enough that it is not a situation that you want to be in.
I think the reason that abuse is now a big part of young adults relationships is that nowadays everyone wants to be in charge. If a person wants to be in charge but their partner doesn't let them be they will tend to do things that may not seem abusive, but actually are. I see things like this happen all the time with some friends relationships. Not going to lie most of the abusers that I know are actually girls. Girls are always super mean to the guys because they dont want the guy to think that he is in charge of the relationship. I see this behavior in my mom. Haha she rules the house and everyone knows it. My poor dad probably doenst even know that he is in an abusive relationship.
ReplyDeleteI don't necessarily think abuse is more common now than it was before, I just think people are actually reporting it now. Before, people would not report it because it was a very casual thing to see happen unfortunately. Fortunately, mentalities towards violence is starting to change and a lot of people are getting the help they need now.
ReplyDeleteI blame the media. Shows and movies show nonstop messages that violence is okay. It's a monkey see monkey do kind of thing. If we see it in media we accept it. Reality t.v and shows influence people that violence, jealousy, and verbal abuse are the norm.
ReplyDeletei think that dating violence is on the rise because everyone wants to be in a relationship and everyone wants to feel wanted. I'm not saying that in every relationship a girl is getting beat up, but being talked down to constantly and feeling like your not worthy in the relationship is abuse. i have a friend that every time we go out to a party her boyfriend is telling her what to wear, by her side, not to drink too much, and yells at her if she starts to have fun and a good time. i personally don't think that is healthy at all but when i say something to her she's like "he's only acting like that because he loves and cares about me". i think thats a dumb answer but whatever. people are going to stay in an unhealthy relationship no matter what you tell them so i think its up to each person as to what kind of relationship they want to be in.
ReplyDeleteIn my perspective i'd say most young adults would bring violence on the relation because they are insecure and scare to be alone so threatning their partner if they leave them something bad will happen for example most young adults come to a point where they start to realize who their real friends are and they tend to stick with that group so once they feel like they have someone who they can see a future with they dont want to let go that person because they know they will be left alone with nobody to support them like their partner do
ReplyDeleteI believe that the escalation of dating violence among young adults is due to many factors. One being the pressure of college in general, as well as the pressure of discovering what kind of person you want to be. For males (not that all violence is committed by males) they want to be in control. They may feel the need to have power over something in their lives. For females, or victims of abuse, self-esteem is a huge factor. If you don't respect yourself as a young woman, what makes you think a man will? Due to low self-esteem, women let their partners take advantage of them. If you respect yourself, once you see the signs of an encroaching abusive relationship, you can walk out because you know that you deserve better. The media could also be to blame. Reality tv displays acts of violence, jealousy, and abuse as the norm. Some people accept this and allow it to influence their behavior in reality. This really could go on and on, but no matter the reason for dating abuse, it is not okay.
ReplyDeleteApparently I am guilty of being a tad bit abusive in a relationship, however it is only by teasing and calling them names. But, that is from just playing around and having a good time. Maybe innocent little acts could be identified as being abusive, which I was shocked to find out when I did take the quiz. Many people these days are getting into abusive relationships and they ones who are being abused are not sure how to get out of them. The abuse in relationships are going up, which is sad, because many people stay in these unhealthy relationships. After someone is being abused by the significate other, the person that is being abused is still saying that they still "love" them which to me is complete BS! If anyone were ever to hit me they would get a hit back and not a call back!
ReplyDeleteIm not a mean person but I do think that when it comes to a relationship I do tend to get mean but never agressive. I think its just a way of protecting whats yours. But i will never lay a hand on my partner. oh the other hand people think that the violence was just an accident but i never think that it would ever be an accident if it was intentional. I know some people that have been or are in abussive relationships and yet they think nothing of it. For it to continue to rise is just wrong and most of it just has to do with not wanting to end a relationship because you feel comfortable in the crappy relationship, young adults need to just be alone til they are mature enough to take care of themselves, before starting a relationship.
ReplyDeleteI think that abusive relationships are the result of what we surround ourselves with. The pressures of today's world have taken it's toll on young adults and teens like it never has in the past. We look at how the media portrays that "perfect relationship" in movies and shows and think that we should be on the hunt for what is being portrayed. When we finally find that partner we are lead to believe that we can make it last for a lifetime like in the movies. The idea that we can "make it work" consumes us. So when our relationships face conflict we start to feel that pressure to "make it work" and it leads us to drastic, controlling things to our partners and their lives. As conflicts arise from time to time we find ourselves doing even more drastic things to make sure the relationship doesn't fall apart, because we are lead to believe that perfect relationship does not fall apart and build back up. Also, we refuse to leave because we fear of the consequences that will follow; the heartache, the days of being alone, doing things that remind you of them when you are trying to forget. So the relationship continues and suddenly these drastic measures to "keep it together" has taken a turn into cynical boundaries. The want to control the relationship kicks in. The abusive behavior kicks in with all the nasty habits (i.e. drugs, alcohol) that are used to escape the vast array of violence.
ReplyDeleteFor some they get smart and grow some toughness and are able to walk out with a sense of pride. For others it's just not that simple. They go along with it because after a while, it's all they know and all they are "confined" to know.
The title of this blog reminded me of something: If I have to keep hearing how Taylor Swift has six break-ups a year that start off great then end with her having a bitter show down filled with hate and revenge, she should make an album called, "Maybe It's Me"
Great closing blog post Miguel! Nice synthesis of all the variables at play, and love your helpful suggestion for Taylor Swift:)
ReplyDelete