By Connor Liu and Animesh Joshi February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, a time for youth nationwide to come together in an effort to raise awareness of teen dating violence or TDV. Too often, we fail to recognize both the gravity and frequency of TDV. According to the Domestic Violence Awareness Project, approximately 1.4 million high school students in a relationship in the United States experience physical violence, and approximately one-third of all teens have experienced abuse of some kind. Teens who suffer from dating violence often struggle with its consequences for a lifetime and ultimately, are more prone to alcoholism, eating disorders, self-harm, and further violence. Despite its alarming effects, the CDC reports that only 19% of parents recognize TDV as a “serious issue,” indicating an even larger societal ignorance. In the face of this, it’s critical we bring these issues to light. This is why we wanted to reflect on TDV—its origins, what it is (and has become), and how we can all come together to try and solve the problem. A History on Teen Domestic Violence Awareness Month Although Dating Violence Awareness Month has existed nationwide since 1987, focus on teenagers has been a recent addition. During the 2005 VAWA reauthorization, the legislation specifically brought to attention teenage dating violence and potential abuse. The next year, Congress authorized the creation of a week to raise awareness for TDV and in 2010, the week became the month of February. Since then, February has been designated as a month for TDV awareness, work, and movements. What is Teen Dating Violence? There is no singular definition for TDV, but often, people only associate it with physical or sexual abuse. However, many different forms of dating violence exist, and so we’ve chosen to include some of the most common types for teenagers below:
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February 2023
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