Relationship abuses among teens are common as most of them are naive on how relationship works. One Love foundation started a #ThatsNotLove campaign to educate teenagers about relationship abuse.
Relationship and domestic abuse usually occur in teenage relationship as most teens are blinded with the concept of love. According to the NHS relationship abuse includes both verbal and emotional assaults, which include:
- Making subtle hints like embarrassing the boyfriend/girlfriend in front of their friends. The abuser would usually apologize after doing the deed.
- Making the partner feel small about him/her self. It is usually done through the act or insults.
- Forcing the latter to do something he/she doesn't want to (this usually falls under sexual abuse). It is when the abuse victim is not comfrortable doing what the abuser demands him/her to do.
- Checking up on the partner every so often, setting out irrational rules, and placing strict limitation such as the prohibition of going out with friends. The abuser would usually imply threats when one does not follow what the abuser demands
Relationship abuse is often disguised as love wherein the abuser would explain the actions stating that he/she is doing it out of love. Having a controlling behavior is an indication that you are going through an abusive relationship.
It is important to seek help (though it may be hard for some) before it would escalate into something that can lead to harm as per CNN's report. One Love Foundation was made in honor or the relationship abuse victim, Yeardley Love, who was beaten to death just a few weeks before her graduation in 2010.
The foundation continually grew into something that most teenagers that suffer from relationship abuse needs. As of 2016, One Love grew into 40 active teams that can be found on college campuses with around 6,000 members.
In addition to CNN's data, it was revealed that one in every three women and one in four men go through relationship abuses wherein they were physically, sexually, and verbally abused by their partners. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence then added that women ages 16 to 24 are the ones that are likely to experience relationship abuse.
