Crapo leads charge vs. teen violence
He's done it again.
Mike Crapo, Idaho's senator with a long history of work against sexual abuse and teen violence, is putting legislation where his heart is. Better yet, he's doing it bipartisan-style. He and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island, introduced the SAFE (stop abuse for every) Teen Act. The budget-neutral bill allows schools to use existing federal grant funds for education and awareness on dating violence (a subject mandatory in 15 states and growing).
Teen dating violence is no small matter. According to data from Sen. Crapo, the Department of Justice, and Centers for Disease Control, one in four of the 72 percent of 14-year-olds who report dating also report suffering sexual or emotional violence (including cell phone harassment up to 30 times an hour). One in 10 report physical violence. Females between 16 and 24 suffer the highest rates, although males can be victims too. Most - about two thirds - don't report while going through it and parents remain unaware.
The biggest barrier to correcting is the crux of Sen. Crapo's bill: education and awareness. Too many teens think what they're experiencing or doing is normal; their inexperienced or romantic notions of love leave them unprepared. Some health and sex ed classes teach a "dating bill of rights" to help dispel myths and protect kids.
Types of dating violence include:
* Verbal - Name-calling, put-downs, accusations, blame, lying, yelling, threat of harm (to self, victim, or others), saying they're the only one who cares, putting down friends and family, instructions about what to wear or say, and other manipulations
* Emotional - Showing jealousy; efforts to embarrass or humiliate; controlling behavior; keeping tabs through frequent phone calls, emails, and texts; breaking things; and alienation by discouraging time spent with others, work, or family; and stalking
* Physical - Hitting, slapping, biting, squeezing, kicking, choking, shoving, shaking, twisting an arm, pulling hair, spitting, burning, trapping/cornering, and hiding car keys/money are examples.
* Sexual - Forcing any sexual act, however "minor" is sexual abuse, regardless of relationship. Some manipulate birth control to force pregnancy, tying the victim to him/her for years.
* Financial - In addition to cash are debit and credit card abuses, such as adding a name, taking/using the card, or forcing purchases.
Some of this can be very subtle. "Force" need not be at gunpoint, but can take the form of unrelenting pressure, threats, compromised ethics, and emotional torture. All are power plays, and none is right. Love is respectful.
More information is available at Acadv.org or the North Idaho Violence Prevention Center (208) 664-9303.
Sholeh Patrick is a columnist for the Hagadone News Network. Email [email protected].