Dating violence and abuse have been more prevalent among college students than ever before. A study released in 2011 from Washington, D.C., revealed that nearly half of dating college women (43%) report having experienced violent or abusive dating behaviors, and more than one in five (22%) report actual physical abuse, sexual abuse or threats of physical violence. Despite the high number of students experiencing these types of abuse, more than one-third of college students (38%) say they would not know how to get help on campus if they found themselves in an abusive relationship.
Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner. Domestic violence can be physical, sexual, emotional, economic, or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person. This includes any behaviors that intimidate, manipulate, humiliate, isolate, frighten, terrorize, coerce, threaten, blame, hurt, injure or wound someone.
According to some of the findings:
o Nearly 1 in 3 (29%) college women report having been a victim of an abusive dating relationship in her life.
o 57% of students who report having been in an abusive dating relationship indicate it occurred in college.
o 52% of college women report knowing a friend who has experienced violent and abusive dating behaviors including physical, sexual, digital, verbal or controlling abuse.
o Further, 58% of students said they would not know how to help if they knew someone was a victim
Some examples of violence to look for include:
Physical Abuse: Hitting, slapping, shoving, grabbing, pinching, biting, hair pulling, etc. are types of physical abuse. This type of abuse also includes denying a partner medical care or forcing alcohol and/or drug use upon him or her.
Sexual Abuse: Coercing or attempting to coerce any sexual contact or behavior without consent. Sexual abuse includes, but is certainly not limited to, marital rape, attacks on sexual parts of the body, forcing sex after physical violence has occurred, or treating one in a sexually demeaning manner.
Emotional Abuse: Undermining an individual’s sense of self-worth and/or self-esteem is abusive. This may include, but is not limited to, constant criticism, diminishing one’s abilities, name-calling, or damaging one’s relationship with his or her children.
Economic Abuse: Is defined as making or attempting to make an individual financially dependent by maintaining total control over financial resources, withholding one’s access to money, or forbidding one’s attendance at school or employment.
Psychological Abuse: Elements of psychological abuse include – but are not limited to – causing fear by intimidation; threatening physical harm to self, partner, children, or partner’s family or friends; destruction of pets and property; and forcing isolation from family, friends, or school and/or work.
Dating violence is a very serious issue affecting college men and women around the country. It is something to not be taken lightly because it can happen to anyone, anywhere, and at any time regardless of race, age, sexual orientation, religion or gender.
If you or someone you know is experiencing these types of behaviors from a partner please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or the YWCA Women’s Shelter, Kalamazoo (269) 385-2869.