A new survey shows up to 35 percent of adolescent girls in the U.S. will face some sort of abuse while dating. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and we spoke with two victims who say the relationships you make during your teenage years can impact your entire life.
The women we spoke with didn't want to be identified but told us about a time when they thought the physical, emotional and sexual abuse they were going through was love.
One victim says, “Girls are sitting out there and think they have to live with this, that they have to live like that. Nobody deserves it.”
The National Council on Crime and Delinquency reviewed the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey. It's taken every two years across the U.S. by 9th through 12th graders.
The victims we interviewed told us what happened to them. “He was 16, I was 13. He’s cousin had brought the beer, and I didn't really want to, but got pressured into having sex at 13.”
Two years later, “My first car accident that could have killed me and he just did it because he said if I can't have you then we're both going to die, and he just stomped the gas petal and hit a tree dead on and it almost scalped me because my head went through the windshield.”
Officials say dating violence happens, it's not talked about enough, and it's time everyone gets educated.
Lois Valentine, with LKLP Safe house Domestic Violence Program in Hazard says, “Basically males are more physically prone to be violent, females, they are more likely to do emotional abuse.”
Officials say young girls may not know its wrong, and the survey shows they are more likely to suffer more minor and severe injuries then an adult.
“Each in everyday you have to go through it, it like tears another piece of your soul out.”
The survey also shows abused girls are more likely to be exposed to violence in other forms and abuse drugs.”
The women wanted to emphasize that even at a young age, jealousy is not flattering. The first time you see someone get enraged, get out and tell someone you trust.