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Mellissa Nuno
Professor Derohanessian
English 113B, 8:00-9:15am
12 February 2015
Teenage Domestic Violence
33% of adolescents in America are victims to sexual, physical, verbal, or emotional
dating abuse (Teen Dating Violence, DoSomething). Throughout the United States, domestic
violence has been a problem and still is to this day. It is an issue that does not get noticed,
because most of the victims do not want to talk about it mainly ages 16 to 24. Teenagers are at a
vulnerable age, still getting used to hormones, puberty, and emotions. They are not able to cope
with certain situations that they are confronted with such as violence between their
boyfriend/girlfriend. Once physical contact between the teenage couple begins, it is hard to stop
or recover. This is a problem because when it involves the health and safety of adolescents, it
doesnt get the attention it needs. Teenage domestic violence needs to gain awareness so
teenagers will become conscious of what behavior is considered appropriate when in a
relationship with another teen and also receive the help that teenagers which are being abused
need, so they will avoid depression or anxiety, avoid drug/alcohol use, avoid becoming antisocial, and avoid thoughts about attempting suicide; making young men and women feel safer in
being in a relationship in their teen years or even mid-twenties.
Teens experience violence in their relationships at a higher rate than any other age
group (King-Ries, 132). Most of the time some teenagers do not know that they are in an
abusive relationship. The victim, usually a girl or woman, would use excuses such as, He says it

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wont happen again, or thats just how he is, or even he is going through something. This
generation is all about boys/young men telling girls what they want to hear. For example, if a guy
is in a relationship just to have sex and the girl says no, it can cause the boy to get angry and hit
the girl or worse. Unhealthy relationships can start early and last a lifetime. Teens often think
some behaviors, like teasing and name calling, are a "normal" part of a relationship. However,
these behaviors can become abusive and develop into more serious forms of violence (Teen
Dating Violence, CDC). According to this article from the Violence Prevention at CDC
website, it informs us that teens think some behaviors are normal and do not pay attention to
those small things until they build up. Destructive conflicts tactics can be hurtful to
relationships and individuals, with approximately 35-40% of adolescents experience physical or
emotional abuse from romantic partners (Simon, 2010).
When one is in an abusive relationship, she is embarrassed to tell anyone or is scared of
what will happen if the abuser finds out that someone else knows besides him and her. The
amount of people who told someone is very low so that is one of the reasons why teenage
domestic violence is hidden because just the relationship knows about the abuse. Only 33% of
teens who were in a violent relationship ever told anyone about the abuse (Youtube, Teenage
Domestic Violence). Why do these people stay in abusive relationships? There are many
explanations to why one doesnt leave the relationship. One is that emotions get in the way such
as fear, embarrassment, low self-esteem, and even love. Another reason why people stay is
because the pressure that is put on their shoulders such as social or peer pressure, cultural or
religious reasons, and being pregnant or already have a childmost stay because the safety of
their children or so the child can have both mom and dad. One big reason is the distrust of adults
or authority because "eight States in the U.S. do not consider a violent dating relationship

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domestic abuse. Therefore, adolescents, teens, and mid-twenties are unable to apply for a
restraining order for protection from the abuser (Teen Dating Violence, DoSomething). This
affects how teenagers handle problems in the abusive relations because many teens and young
adults do not feel that the police can or will help them. A teens confusion about the law and
their desire for confidentiality are two of the most significant barriers stopping young victims of
abuse from seeking help (Dating Abuse Statistics, LoveisRespect). Last but not least they stay
because they rely on the aggressive partner, whether its lack of money, nowhere to go, or
disability.
There are ways to avoid being in an abusive relationship. There are signs that one should
pay attention to. If the guy is constantly texting or calling one to find out where the girl is at or
who she is with, he is controlling the relationship which is one of the signs. If the girl starts
notices that the abuser is blaming his problems on other people or her for making him treat her
badly or tries to control what she and who she gets to see, those are the signs of an abusive
person. That person will be trying to control and be the dominant one in the relationship. One
might ask, why me? there can be many different reasons why one is abusive. Some of them are
that the partner is aggressive, using drugs or illegal substance, have conflicts with the partner, or
even witnessing or experiencing violence within the home. So before being in a relationship find
out dislike and likes, learn how manage jealousy or anger, and be able to communicate with
partner. (Teen Dating Violence, CDC)
Some might say that its not only young women getting abused, young men are also being
abused in teenage relationships. Both boys and girls are abused but bots usually tend to start the
violence and use greater force (Teen Relationship Abuse, WebMD). However, the percent of
boys getting abused is lower than the percent of girls being abused. A 2011 CDC nationwide

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survey found that 23% of females and 14% of males who ever experienced rape, physical
violence, or stalking by an intimate partner (Teen Dating Violence, CDC).
Dating violence can be prevented when teens, families, communities, and organizations
work together and carry out more effective prevention strategies and get others involved in
raising awareness in teenage domestic violence. This is why teenage domestic violence needs to
gain attention because it will help teenagers in relationships with another teen, and it will help
them avoid being in an abusive relationship and also find love and be happy.

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Words Cited
"Teen Dating Violence." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, 26 Nov. 2014. Web. 11 Feb. 2015.
"Teenage Domestic Violence (PSA)." YouTube. YouTube, 6 Feb. 2013. Web. 12 Feb.
2015.
"11 Facts About Teen Dating Violence." 11 Facts About Teen Dating Violence. N.p., n.d.
Web. 11 Feb. 2015.
"Teen Relationship Abuse." WebMD. WebMD, 08 Feb. 2001. Web. 17 Feb. 2015.
Halket, Megan, et al. "Stay With Or Leave The Abuser? The Effects Of Domestic
Violence Victim's Decision On Attributions Made By Young Adults." Journal Of Family
Violence 29.1 (2014): 35-49. Academic Search Premier. Web. 17 Feb. 2015.
"Dating Abuse Statistics." Www.loveisrespect.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2015.
King-Ries, Andrew. "Teens, Technology, And Cyberstalking: The Domestic Violence
Wave Of The Future?." Texas Journal Of Women & The Law 20.2 (2011): 131-164. Academic
Search Premier. Web. 12 Feb. 2015.
Simon, Valerie A., and Wyndol Furman. "Interparental Conflict And Adolescents'
Romantic Relationship Conflict." Journal Of Research On Adolescence (Wiley-Blackwell) 20.1
(2010): 188-209. Academic Search Premier. Web. 12 Feb. 2015.
"Why Do People Stay in Abusive Relationships?" Www.loveisrespect.org. N.p., n.d.
Web. 16 Feb. 2015.