We have often heard the cliché saying “You fight like an old married couple”. However, violence in relationships, both mental and physical, is a serious matter. According to the Huffington Post, one in four women and one in seven men will experience severe violence by their intimate partner. A study by the Department of Justice recorded that women between the ages of 16-24 experienced the highest rate of intimate partner violence.
This raises the question as to whether or not students are truly feeling safe in college relationships. In fact, abuse in college relationships has become prevalent in today’s society. In 2014, Nadia Ezaldein, a University of Chicago student, was working when her ex-boyfriend entered the store and shot her to death. The day before that tragedy, Shannon Jones, a student at Cornell University, was allegedly strangled to death by her boyfriend during an argument. These are just a few examples of the many homicides that have derived from abusive relationships.
A poll was conducted on college campuses where nearly 57% of women who were in an abusive relationship reported that the abuse occurred in college. Abuse in relationships can be detrimental, as it can lead to homicide, depression, substance abuse, and eating disorders. Assistant Professor of Community Health at Ball State University, Jagidsh Khubchandani, states that “the vast majority of schools don’t have a protocol to respond to an incident of dating abuse”. Thus, many incidents are unaddressed. If you or anyone you know is not feeling safe in their relationship, there are many ways that you can help.
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Reach out to your loved ones. They can provide support and a sense of security.
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Reach out to counseling services. They can address the issue and help you take further action during this difficult time.
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Make a safety plan- Develop a plan to know where to go when feeling unsafe.
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Don’t place blame on yourself or your loved one. Removing oneself from a relationship can be extremely difficult, and no one needs the extra nagging or pressure from others.
Lastly, whether one decides to stay or leave an abusive relationship, it is important to continue seeking support.
Sources:
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/education/domestic-violence-prevalent-college-students-sexual-assault
http://www.breakthecycle.org/dating-violence-research/college-dating-violence-and-abuse-poll
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/23/domestic-violence-statistics_n_5959776.html
https://sapac.umich.edu/article/311
https://www.campussafetymagazine.com/safety/abuse-the-dark-side-of-dating-on-campus/