Dating Rights:

You have the right to...

• Be treated with respect and dignity
• Act one way with one person, and a different way with someone else
• Pay my own way
• Change my mind
• Keep my friends
• Say no, to anything
• Break up, fall out of love, or leave a relationship
• Not be abused, physically, emotionally, verbally, or sexually
• To be myself and not who someone else wants me to be

Battering (abuse) tends to escalate over time, leading, in some instances, to homicide/suicide. FBI, 1979

Are You in an Abusive Relationship?

One in three women who are killed in the United States are killed by their boyfriend or husband. Barrie Levy - In Love And In Danger

PLEASE DO NOT FEEL AFRAID, ASHAMED OR GUILTY TO RECEIVE MEDICAL OR EMOTIONAL ASSISTANCE. NO ONE DESERVES TO BE ABUSED!

NO ONE!!

WARNING SIGNS

Verbal Assaults
Comments or jokes that make you feel bad

Isolation
Making you feel guilty for spending time with others

ARE YOU...

• Sometimes frightened by your partner's behavior?
• Afraid to disagree with your partner?
• Apologizing for your partner's behavior? (even when you have been treated badly)
• Verbally assaulted and put down on by your partner?
• Avoiding your friends or family because of how your partner will act?
• Afraid of breaking up with your partner because you fear being hurt?
• Forced to have sex even when you don't want to or are uncomfortable?

HAVE YOU...

UNCONTROLLABLE ANGER
Be careful of those that express anger inappropriately

LOW SELF-ESTEEM
"I can't live without you" , "you are the only person that understands me"

ALCOHOL/DRUG USE
Your partner may try to use this as an excuse for the abuse

EXTREME JEALOUSY
Needing to know your every move, making you carry a beeper

CONTROLLING
Making all the decisions, such as what you wear, eat or ignoring your comments

UNPREDICTABLE BEHAVIOR
Nice one minute and fly into a rage the next

One in four, or 28% of high school and college students surveyed said they had experienced violence in a dating relationship. Barrie Levy - In Love And In Danger

For Victims of Dating Violence

The Abuse is NOT your fault

You do not deserve to be abused

You CANNOT change someone who is abusive

Over time, the abuse ALWAYS gets worse

Make a SAFETY Plan to follow when the abuse happens again

If violence occurs once in a dating relationship, it is likely to occur again. Barrie Levy- Dating Violence: Young Women In Danger

Staying in the relationship, getting married, or having children will NOT stop the abuse

Been hurt, shoved, choked, grabbed, thrown down, or had things thrown at you?

Been criticized or embarrassed in front of others?

If you answered "YES" to any of these questions, it is time to check your relationships.