The following videos are from a “Words Not Spoken” program on Teen and Young Adult Dating Violence, entitled, Promoting Healthy Relationships, presented on Sunday, April 6, 2008 in Philadelphia, PA. These are edited versions and not necessarily the complete monologue of each character.  The teenagers and young adults playing the different roles are not telling their own stories, but rather acting out situations of dating violence.

There were two performances on April 6, 2008,  one for teens and young adults and one for parents, educators, youth leaders and other community adults. The program was presented by the Philadelphia Planning Committee (JCC’s Community Initiative; Jewish Family and Children’s Service; Laurel House of Montgomery County; and the Women’s Center of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania), along with JWI’s National Training Institute.

The teenagers and young adults playing the different roles are not telling their own stories, but rather acting out situations of dating violence.

Click here to contact Hedda about discussing and arranging for a presentation of WNS on Teen and Young Adult Dating Violence.

Read about other “Words Not Spoken” Teen and Young Adult Dating Violence presentations on the Testimonial section.

Presenting the” Words Not Spoken” Program to  teens and young adult audiences as well as to adult audiences brings this often “hidden issue” out into the open, and helps in educating about techniques to promote healthy relationships, and hopefully assists in reducing the numbers of teens and young adults that are in abusive relationships.  The teen and young adult characters portrayed in the performance are a  reflection of some of the situations members of the audience may be facing. Peers respond to their peers; the language is in their language and the experiences are more closely related to their own.

As you will see below, Teen and Young Adult Dating Violence statistics are extremely high, keeping in mind that many participants in surveys do not report all that is happening and all surveys do not capture all teens and young adults.  Some of the statistics we know and hope to reduce are:

• 1 in 3 teenagers report knowing a friend or peer who has been hit, punched, kicked, slapped, choked or physically hurt by their partner. (Liz Claiborne Inc. study on teen dating abuse conducted by Teenage Research Unlimited, February 2005.)
• Research indicates that in 21% of college dating relationships, one of the partners is being abused. That’s 1 in 5 relationships ( Sellers and M. Bromley, “Violent Behavior in College Student Dating Relationships,” Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice (1996)
• One in three teens (30%) say they are text messaged 10, 20, 30 times an hour by a partner inquiring where they are, what they're doing, or who they're with. (Liz Claiborne Inc. study on teen dating abuse conducted by Teenage Research Unlimited, February 2005.)
• In March 2006, Liz Claiborne Inc. commissioned Teenage Research Unlimited (TRU) to do another study of teen dating abuse and the following are some of the findings:
  
  
  • 1 in 4 teens who have been in a serious relationship say their boyfriend or girlfriend has tried to prevent them from spending time with friends or family; the same number have been pressured to only spend time with their partner.
     
  • Nearly 1 in 4 girls who have been in a relationship (23%) reported going further sexually than they wanted as a result of pressure.
• Only 33% of teens who were in an abusive relationship ever told anyone about the abuse. (Liz Claiborne Inc. Concluded by Teenage Research Unlimited, February 2005) When female high school students were asked whom they would talk to if someone they date is attempting to control them, insult them, or physically harm them, 86% said they would confide in a friend, while only 7% said they would talk to police.( Tiffany J. Swicker, Education Policy Brief, “The Imperative of Developing Teen Dating Violence Prevention and Intervention Programs in Secondary Schools.” 12 Southern California Review and Women’s Studies, 131)
• 81% of parents surveyed either believe teen dating violence is not an issue or admit they don’t know if it is an issue ( Women’s Health”, June/July 2004. Family Violence Prevention and Advocates for Youth, 2004)
• A comparison of Intimate Partner Violence rates between teens and adults, reveals that teens are at higher risk of intimate partner abuse ( Jay G. Silverman et. Al, “ Dating Violence Against Adolescent Girls and Associated Substance Abuse Use, Unhealthy Weight Control, Sexual Risk Behavior, Pregnancy and Suicidality..” Journal of American Medical Association, Vol. 286,572. 576-577. ( Nov. 5, 2001)

Click here to contact Hedda about discussing and arranging for a presentation of WNS on Teen and Young Adult Dating Violence.