Dating violence can happen:

• In any relationship with a romantic or sexual context
• In an established relationship, or on a first date
• In monogamous or polyamorous relationships
• In straight or LGBTQ+ relationships
• To anyone regardless of race, culture, age, income, education level, gender, or sexuality

Many teens believe that some behaviors, like name-calling or shoving, are part of “normal” relationships. They’re not. If your partner continues to act in this way, their behavior will likely become more violent over time.

Do you feel safe setting a boundary with your partner? If you’ve told your partner you have been negatively impacted by their action or behavior, and they continue that action of behavior, that is an intentional choice. You deserve a partner that chooses to respect your boundaries.

Dating violence includes:

• Physical abuse: hitting, punching, biting, kicking, slapping, shoving, pulling hair, strangling, pinching
• Emotional abuse: gaslighting, name-calling, threatening, screaming, embarrassing, insulting, intimidating, isolating, stalking
• Sexual abuse: assuming implied consent; forcing sex or unwanted sexual contact; not letting you use birth control; using drugs or alcohol to take advantage of you sexually
• Electronic abuse: using technology or social media to stalk, harass, embarrass, threaten or control you; demanding passwords; sexting; checking cell phones