Parents urged to be aware of teen-dating violence

By Katie Brown, Journal staff | Tuesday, February 05, 2008

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Recognizing that violence in romantic relationships among teenagers exists is important and there are steps parents can take, said a local victim's assistant.

The U.S. Senate in December passed Senate Resolution 388 making the first full week of February National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week.

Sharon Kallemeyn, Director of Pennington County Victim's Assistance, said that a myth still exists that domestic violence does not occur among teens.

"We need to recognize that, indeed, this violence does occur in many forms, and we need to take steps to prevent it and stop it," Kallemeyn said.

She said parents should talk with their children and be vigilant about who they date.

"They need to ask questions about bruises or other signs of injury which may have been inflicted on their daughter," she said.

Kallemeyn said although the majority of teens abused in romantic relationships are girls, she has also seen male victims.

Kallemeyn said often victims have bonded with their abusers and do not come forward about abuse because they feel sorry for the abuser, do not want the abuser to get into trouble, or the victims blame themselves. She said teenage victims of abusive relationships often feel ashamed about reporting the abuse.

Kallemeyn said parents need to be cautious because sometimes a victim does not want to report the abuse to parents or authorities because they want to continue the relationship and know the parents would try to end it.

In a news release, Danielle Borrin, deputy press secretary for Sen. Joseph Biden, Jr. D-Del., a supporter of the resolution, said the awareness week is designated to be a time to encourage local, state and national organizations to call attention to the tragedy and pervasiveness of teen dating violence in communities.

Biden is quoted in the news release saying teenagers need to hear messages that domestic violence is wrong and access age-appropriate services in schools, courtrooms and community centers.

"It is critical that we guide our teenagers toward respectful relationships and learn to expect nothing less than violence-free lives," Biden said.

Contact Katie Brown at 394-8318 or katie.brown@rapidcityjournal.com

At a glance

One in three female teens in a dating relationship report having feared for their safety.

About 30 percent of teens in a dating relationship have been text-messaged 10, 20 or 30 times an hour by a partner finding out where they are.

One in five teens in a serious relationship report having been hit, slapped or pushed by a partner.

One in four girls in a relationship report having been pressured to go further sexually than they really wanted.

Source: Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Institute