This week I thought it would be interesting to take a look at some of the programs in our society that aim to prevent teen dating violence, as our guest speaker, Jenny Dills, discussed today. She showed us videos from the Love is Respect campaign. It seems to be one of the very few programs that exist that aim to prevent, not just assist victims of, teen dating violence. At this point in society, one would think we are at a point where the issue has been acknowledged for long enough that prevention should be a huge priority for resource centers.
The Love is Respect campaign does have a lot of positive messages to encourage teens to not allow dating violence to become an acceptable part of their relationships. For example, the "My Time to Shine" project has teamed up with Martina McBride to "get the word out about teen dating abuse and educate both teens and parents on ways to safe." The website even has a quiz you can take to see if your relationship would be deemed healthy. They are doing their best to send messages to teens that are positive, and encourage them to believe they deserve a healthy relationship filled with love.
Similarly, the Green Dot campaign targets college campuses to stop sexually violent situations at they are happening or as they are about to happen. As we discussed in class, this can take a lot of focus off the victim and place it all on the perpetrator and the people stepping in. Is this fair/unfair? Is it the best way to succeed in prevention of teen dating violence? If not, what do you think would be the best?
-Ami J.
Dating, relationship, and sexual violence is a deadly and very present problem in our world. I agree with the quest speaker that we need to remove the victim-blaming and place the responsibility squarely on the culture that allows this to happen, and the partners that perpetrate the violence. We see victim-blaming going on, but perhaps even more so with teenagers; why this happens is anyone's guess. i would say that where women are blamed for their own abuse, teenage girls are blamed more because they are seen as careless, are easier targets, as if that's an excuse.
ReplyDeletethe issue of domestic violence connects with the issues of masculinity that dr. webber spoke on last week; these young men feel like they have to prove something, they have to show their strength, and that comes at the cost of bodily autonomy and safety for these women. we need to take away the ideas that women somehow belong to their partners; the idea that men must be masculine at all costs; the idea that violence is in anyway okay.
it starts with our language and how we react to these situations; if we continue to excuse violence, it wont go away because perpetrators will see the culture around them as excusing of their behavior.
When you hear about teen dating violence they always say something thats blaming the victim saying they brought it onto themselves. Like she shouldn't of been dressed like that or why was she even out that late. They don't look hard enough into the perpetrator. I really dont know if there is any good way to succeed in teen dating violence. All I can think of is more education for teens and parents. Also to have more options or programs for teens that have been in a violent relationship. I also think having more commericals on TV might help as well because when I watch TV I never see commericals for people that have been abuse or anything. I see stuff for your sex life and stuff but nothing to do with any kind of abuse. So I think advertising it more could make a difference. And letting the victim know they are not alone.
ReplyDelete-Jamie B.
When I think of teen dating violence I always think of people complaining about why doesn't that person just get out of the relationship? I have come to the realization that it is not always that persons fault. The teen might not be completely educated about what to do to get out of the relationship. Also I think that these relationships might be one of the very first relationships that these teens might be in and they feel as if they are in love and no one else will love them so they should just stick it out. I think that a way to get the message out is to put more advertisement out there and more information for teens to get ahold of.
ReplyDeletethat is my post right above here.
ReplyDelete-Sam F.