Teen dating violence affects millions of young people in this country every year. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), teen dating violence can include physical violence, sexual violence, psychological aggression, and stalking. This form of intimate partner violence can be perpetrated in person, by technology, or online. The pernicious effects of dating violence can have a lifelong impact on the victim’s health, self-esteem, and ability to form healthy relationships. College administrators and staff have to understand some victims of teen dating violence may bring the trauma of the experience with them to college. Attitudes on appropriate dating and interpersonal relationships are formed early. A 2009 study of sixth graders found that 25 percent believed it was acceptable for a boyfriend to hit his girlfriend. This sobering statistic suggests we must change the narrative and correct this dangerous and destructive way of thinking before young people become hard-wired to believe teen dating violence is acceptable. There are countless studies on the adolescent brain and how young people process information and social dynamics. According to Liz Claiborne, Inc.’s College Dating Violence and Abuse Poll (2011), 70 percent of respondents who experienced teen dating violence viewed their relationships as healthy when […]
Many communities and campuses across the country commemorate the strength and spirit of its Native Americans and their invaluable contributions to the country in November. College campuses often lead the way on celebrating the diversity, endurance, rich histories and stories of the people whose identities and sacrifices are woven into the tapestry of America’s narrative. For our collective memory and safety, it is vital that our institutions of higher learning create a climate where Indigenous traditions and cultures are not lost or diminished. When we honor the legacy of Native Americans, we ensure their resilience is not forgotten. When we honor their legacy, we ensure their safety is prioritize. And when we honor their legacy, we must also remember the role of Indigenous women in the early tribes. Native American women had an equal role beside the men in Native society before Europeans arrived on these shores over 500 years ago. These women also had agency over their own bodies and sexuality. Native American society forbade rape. For instance, the Powhatan tribe banished a man from the tribe for raping a woman. Historians believe European men judged Indigenous women they encountered by Eurocentric Christian values and mores. Native women fought […]
Domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking impact individuals across all races, ethnicities, socio-economic levels, genders, sexual orientation, and levels of education. Therefore, it is important to be aware of the impact on different populations and explore ways to improve prevention and response efforts, while taking into consideration different factors that can impact diverse student populations. Data published by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that one in three (34.4%) Latinas experienced physical violence, sexual violence, and/ or stalking from an intimate partner in their lifetime. The same report indicated that 18.5% of Hispanic men had experienced sexual violence during their lifetime Download Document
The Toolkit for Preventing Interpersonal Violence among Students Studying Abroad is designed to increase the capacity of colleges to prevent interpersonal violence among students who participate in study abroad programs.
Continue ReadingBecause the youth are the future of our society, we must do what is necessary to ensure that they are not experiencing undue violence in relationships.
Continue ReadingThe purpose of this toolkit is to provide institutions of higher education with information, strategies, and resources to develop a coordinated community response to addressing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking (DVSAS) on campus.
Continue Reading“A lot of the time people think that we’re young, and so it [the domestic violence] can’t be that bad.” View Kim’s Story “Over the last year of our 4-year relationship, I cannot begin to count the number of times I attempted to break up with him. When I would try he would threaten the safety of me and my family, or threaten to commit suicide.” View Survivors Story “I stayed because I was afraid. I stayed because I was full of shame and embarrassment. I stayed because I knew I would be judged if people found out the truth.” View Survivors Story As difficult as it is to acknowledge, dating violence can happen to anyone. Even children as young as 12 have reported being assaulted by their date or intimate partner. Each February, we highlight the prevalence of dating violence among teens and work together to raise awareness about our campuses and in our community for National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month (TDVAM). Teen dating violence is a community-wide issue that requires youth, parents, schools, organizations, health care providers and entire communities to take intentional and practical steps to reduce the number of young people who are […]