I was really scared when I heard about the new internet trend that Chris Brown’s Grammy performance started: that of girls saying that they would let him beat them up if he wants to.
But my shock and outrage over these girls on Twitter saying dumb things is nothing compared to the news that victims of teen dating violence also experience other kinds of violence. From abuse by a caregiver to statutory rape, the new statistic is impossible to stomach when I think about the girls that are so willing to let Chris Brown abuse them are probably already victims of some type of abuse.
Read more ¿Qué más? Chris Brown's Grammy performance sparks HORRIFYING internet trend.
Originally published in the journal Psychology of Violence, researchers interviewed over 1,500 kids and concluded that “every victim of physical violence within a teen dating relationship had also experienced several other forms of victimization.”
You read that correct: EVERY victim.
What does that mean? It means that every single girl that tweeted about Chris Brown, and maybe even Rihanna herself, have possibly suffered abuse at the hands of a caregiver, been raped, experienced statutory rape or sexual misconduct with someone five years older than them.
Read more ¿Qué más? Why it's important to talk to teen girls about abusive behaviors.
That is a scary statistic, especially since the Centers for Disease Control says that “violence in teen relationships often sets the stage for problems in future relationships with an increased risk for further intimate partner violence.” We need to fix this and we need to fix it NOW.
The first step starts with parents and other bystanders “simply expressing concern and offering to be a safe, nonblaming person to talk to about relationships,” according to psychologist and editor of the American Psychological Association journal Psychology of Violence Sherry L. Hamby. It can be tough to talk about it but, just like with eating disorders, it’s something you must do to tackle the problem early on.
Have you ever been suspicious of your teen’s date? How would you talk to them about it?
Image via Tiffanie.J/flickr
