OPPapers.com

Dating Abuse Among Teenage Girls

Emily Davis
Mr. Munson
American Literature
Jr. Research Outline
I. Introduction
A. 1 in 3 teenage girls will be a victim of abuse while in a dating relationship.
B. 250 of 1000 children, ages 11 to 14, who were surveyed reported being victims of abusive relationships.
C.
1. Teenagers tend not to report being victimized because they are embarrassed about it. (Olson. 1-2)
2. Many adolescents believe that unless they are being physically attacked they are not victims of abuse.
3. Dating abuse has not been recognized by society as a widespread issue.
C. Dating Violence is a serious issue faced by 1 in 3 teenagers. The figures are staggering and will affect many people in the long run. The problem needs to be addressed before the figures soar.
II. History of the Problem
A. Recognized as a true problem less than Thirty years ago.
1. First gained recognition in 1981, after a study showed at least 20% of college students were victims of violence while in a dating relationship.
2. A survey conducted a decade later revealed that between 20% to 60% of teenagers and young adults have experienced some form of abuse while in a relationship
B. As time went on, the numbers decreased due to a lack of reporting victimization.
1. From 1994 to 1995, the number of females who reported being victims of dating abuse dropped to 8.8%.
2. A survey conducted in 1997 and 1999 revealed that 9.5% of girls surveyed admitted to being victimized.
B. The amount of reported cases of relationship abuse has increased greatly in the past couple of years.
1. A survey conducted by U.S News & World Report in 2001 showed a 10.5% increase during the two years since the 1999 survey.
2. The number of girls 13 years and older who have been victims of dating abuse has increased greatly since 2000.
C. As abusive dating relationships gained recognition, the...