Nearly 10 percent of U.S. high schoolers report being hit, slapped or physically hurt by their boyfriend or girlfriend in the past year, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control. And nearly one in four have been victimized through technology, according to a nationwide survey by Liz Claiborne Inc. and the Family Prevention Fund.
Teen dating abuse is often misunderstood or just missed by adults. That’s because many teens don’t share stories of abuse and much of the abuse takes place out of view.
“Teen dating abuse is just like domestic violence,” says Chicago Police Department’s Domestic Violence Liaison Officer Claretha Cross, one of the experts featured on BeSmartBeWell.com/Domestic-Violence. “It’s abuse designed to maintain and gain power and control over another person.”
BeSmartBeWell.com/Domestic-Violence is a website sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, Divisions of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company and independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association that features life stories, interviews with dating abuse experts, resources, and tips to help parents start a conversation about teen dating violence and safe relationships.
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