• By DeWanna Hamlin
  • Posted Saturday, February 1, 2025

Courageous Conversations: Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, a perfect time to have conversations about relationships with youth, teens and young adults in our lives.

Defining What is Healthy

First and foremost, defining a healthy relationship is a great place to start your conversation. Characteristics of healthy relationships include respect, mutual understanding, trust, transparency, honesty, communication, and support. It’s also important that both partners maintain outside friendships and interests. The concept of dating changes with each generation. Getting on the same page about how your young person experiences relationships is important.

Red Flags

Adults often aren’t sure about red flags in relationships and in turn, have a hard time identifying them for youth. Familiarize yourself with physical, sexual, emotional, financial, stalking and cyberstalking to facilitate an open conversation.

  • Physical abuse involves kicking, hitting, slapping, “choking,” and using weapons, which may or may not leave visible injuries.
  • Sexual abuse involves activities that impact an individual’s ability to control their own sexual activities which include forced sexual acts, coercion or pressure, or restricting access to contraception.
  • Financial abuse uses money or resources, the access to these items, or sabotage of work or school opportunities as a form of power and control over their partner.
  • Stalking is persistent harassment, monitoring, following, spying or watching another person in person or online.

Boundaries and Consent

Boundaries and consent are established to keep us safe, communicate to others how we want to be treated, and determine which behaviors we will and won’t accept. Consent is about respecting boundaries and never making assumptions. Consent allows partners to be comfortable with what is happening every time. People have the right to stop any activity at any time, even if they have previously agreed to it. Whether the relationship is casual or committed, you should always get and be able to give consent. Think of consent as a vital part of any healthy relationship whether a relationship is sexual or not.

Respectful relationships build trust and emotional safety, promote equality, and support well-being. Couples may not always agree, but healthy partnerships create and demonstrate shared power. Jealousy, and controlling tendencies that intrude on privacy and limitations of partner’s choices and freedoms are never okay.

Leaving the lines of communication open as a mentor, parent, service provider, or other trusted adult will allow opportunities for listening and sharing with youth.

No one deserves to be abused in any form. All abuse is harmful and should be taken seriously. If you are looking for assistance to have courageous conversations with a teen or young adult about safety and relationship tips, visit www.loveisrespect.org.

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