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It is impossible to pinpoint a single reason why teen dating violence is so prevalent in our society. However there are a variety of factors that contribute to its existence and survival.
Gender stereotypes - Many traditional stereotypes exist in our society regarding appropriate gender roles for men and women. Young people learn these stereotypes from the time they are born and often perpetuate them by adopting such beliefs in their own lives through their actions and attitudes. Teenagers many be especially vulnerable to being influenced by these stereotypes because of their desire to model the behavior of adults around them and because of their new interest in forming meaningful intimate relationships. Powerful gender stereotypes that contribute to the prevalence of dating violence include some of the following: male dominance/female subordination, men are aggressive/women are passive, women are viewed as the property of men, women are responsible for the success of the relationship. Although not all dating violence is perpetrated by men against women, these stereotypes help explain why the vast majority of dating violence victims are female.
Intergenerational violence - Children who are exposed to violence in their own homes often learn that violence is an acceptable means of conflict resolution. These children are much more likely to become either the perpetrators or victims of domestic violence in the future. On the one hand, some children will be apt to use violence to deal with problems in their own relationships. On the other hand, some children who are exposed to violence in the home are likely to become victims of an abusive relationship and are more likely to remain in such a relationship because they have learned that violence is a part of every normal relationship. The cycle of violence is another contributing factor to the prevalence of teen dating violence.
People who are hesitant to talk about or address the issue of teen dating violence. Because dating violence occurs within an intimate relationship, many people are reluctant to get involved. Similarly, while most people agree that abuse in any relationship is wrong, few people ever stand up and speak out about it. In addition, young people and old people alike may be unable to recognize the signs or characteristics of an abusive relationship. Educating people about this issue is one step towards fighting against it and sending the message that teen dating violence will not be tolerated.
Teen Dating Violence Statistics
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