Violence In Teenage Relationships

Violence in teenage relationships is a serious epidemic that is not being taken seriously as it should be. Violence in a relationship is defined when a person uses aggression or threat of violence on their partner who they are currently with. While the government is taking steps and passing laws to protect the safety of adolescence, the problem is still not getting the support and attention it should be receiving. It is estimated that at least twenty-eight percent of dating individuals will experience some kind of violence in a romantic relationship. (Suarez, 426) There can be many causes as to why a person may be in an abusive relationship and why a person may choose not to leave that relationship. There are also many lasting effects a person …show more content…
There are numerous reasons to why someone may stay in their abusive relationship. One reason why a person might stay with their abuser is because they see and use the relationship as a type of fulfillment for their life. “Teenagers often experience a lack of security and fulfillment in their family relationship, and romantic relationships often fill in the gap” (Suarez, 428). Women may not be happy with her other relationships that she has in her life so she tries to use her dating relationship as a replacement. For example, she may be unhappy with the relationship she shares with her family or friends and uses the relationship with her boyfriend to fill in the gap or hole she is feeling. Also, they may be afraid that if they tell someone about the abuse, their parents or other people in her life will make her break up with her boyfriend. They also see it as a sign of a person taking away her independence. “You work so hard to get your independence. One thing like that could just blow it all” (Suarez, 428). A reason why a person may stay in their abusive relationship is because they see it as a fulfillment and try to use that relationship to heal the other broken relationships she has in her …show more content…
When a person has been in an abusive relationship, they may fear to tell their family or friends. They fear that once they tell their parents or close friends, they will receive some type of punishment or judgment. The victim may feel guilty for entering a dangerous situation and if they tell their parents, they will be punished. They also fear to tell their friends and peer groups because they fear that will be judged for being in that kind of situation. In order to hide it, a person pretends like everything is okay, even after leaving the relationship. They try their best to hide the pain that they are feeling by trying their best to try making other people happy. Keeping their feelings bottled in could also lead them to other difficulties like depression. Sadly, a person may hide the fact that they were in an abusive relationship in the fear that they will be judged