Domestic Violence Awareness
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It’s the perfect time to talk with your teen about the dangers of finding themselves involved in a relationship with violence or the potential for violence. According to the website Choose Respect, 1 in 11 high school students report being the victim of physical dating abuse, and about one in four teens reports verbal, physical, emotional, or sexual abuse each year.
Following is the text of the Teen Dating Bill of Rights:
********************************************************************************
Teen Dating Bill of Rights and Pledge
I have the right:
To always be treated with respect.
In a respectful relationship, you should be treated as an equal.
To be in a healthy relationship.
A healthy relationship is not controlling, manipulative, or jealous.
A healthy relationship involves honesty, trust, and communication.
To not be hurt physically or emotionally.
You should feel safe in your relationship at all times. Abuse is never deserved and is never your fault.
Conflicts should be resolved in a peaceful and rational way.
To refuse sex or affection at anytime.
A healthy relationship involves making consensual sexual decisions. You have the right to not have sex.
Even if you have had sex before, you have the right to refuse sex for any reason.
To have friends and activities apart from my boyfriend or girlfriend.
Spending time by yourself, with male or female friends, or with family is normal and healthy.
To end a relationship.
You should not be harassed, threatened, or made to feel guilty for ending an unhealthy or healthy
relationship. You have the right to end a relationship for any reason you choose.
I pledge to:
Always treat my boyfriend or girlfriend with respect.
Never hurt my boyfriend or girlfriend physically, verbally, or emotionally.
Respect my girlfriend’s or boyfriend’s decisions concerning sex and affection.
Not be controlling or manipulative in my relationship.
Accept responsibility for myself and my actions.
*********************************************************************************
Be sure to talk with your teenager (whether male or female), about violence in relationships. Have them be watchful about any treatment or attitudes which make them uncomfortable from a boyfriend or girlfriend. Getting into inappropriate relationships can become a pattern. Help your teens know how to set boundaries, and be aware of the behavior of those with whom they have relationships.
For more on emotional issues, visit
teens, teenagers, domestic violence, dating violence, dating abuse, abusive relationships, parenting, parenting teens, parenting teenagers, Domestic Violence Awareness Month
October 11th, 2007 at 5:59 am
[...] up in her face like her other schemes. All I know is that Kendall should do her best to protect her family but revenge is not the answer, because it only brings on more [...]
October 14th, 2007 at 8:33 am
[...] Domestic Violence Awareness and the Teen Dating Bill of Rights - if you have kids of dating age, please print this out and share it with them. Remind them of their rights and acceptable behavior often. Kids should not have to be dealing with this stuff! [...]