Sexual abuse in relationships is not okay

Something inspiring from 2017 was the “Me Too” movement. Sexual assault and harassment are being addressed en masse. Victims are coming forward to share their stories while inviting and encouraging others to do the same. This has been a time of great acceptance and support, and as more and more people share their stories the need for action against this abuse is slowly escalating. Corporations are doing their best to cut ties with accused rapists like Harvey Weinstein, which is a big step in the right direction.
Now more than ever it is time to address all kinds of abuse. One type of abuse that is often underreported is sexual abuse within relationships. According to loveisrespect.org, “nearly 1.5 million high school students nationwide experience physical abuse from a dating partner in a single year. One in three adolescents in the U.S. is a victim of physical, sexual, emotional, or verbal abuse from a dating partner, a figure that far exceeds rates of other types of youth violence. One in 10 high school students has been purposefully hit, slapped, or physically hurt by a boyfriend or girlfriend.”
The most surprising thing I took away from those statistics was how common violence is in relationships among young people. To get a better understanding about the consequences of this type of violence, I talked to Emma, who was the victim of abuse while in a relationship.
“My ex thought that because we were dating it was okay to do what he wanted,” Emma said. “For a while I thought it was what was expected. A good friend of his brought to my attention that what he was doing was wrong and I struggled to get out of the relationship for 2 years. Finally I got the help I needed and even though it still affects my daily life, at least I'm safe and getting help.”
The abuse she experienced made it hard for her to trust people and she feels as though she is no longer able to live a normal life like other people her age. According to Love is Respect, there are many long-lasting effects of adolescent relationship violence. Half of the youth affected attempt suicide, and there is a higher risk for substance abuse, eating disorders, risky sexual behavior and more domestic violence in people who experience this type of abuse.
“Just because you're dating someone doesn't mean they can do whatever they want and it certainly doesn't make it okay for them to ignore you when you say you're uncomfortable,” Emma said. “[In regards to sexual violence] If someone doesn't say yes or they aren't in a sober mind set, it's important to stop because that’s automatically a no. If your partner doesn't want to, or can't consent, it is not okay and is considered sexual assault.”
If you are not able to talk to someone you trust in the aftermath of relationship violence, there are two hotlines that you can reach out to. The domestic abuse hotline: 1-800-799-7233, and the sexual assault hotline: 1-800-656-4673. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

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