Quick Answers...
What is the difference in dating
violence for boys and girls?
One study showed that a little over one-third of both
girls and boys said they had been physically abused by a
dating partner, but the experience was much worse for girls
than boys. Girls experienced the more severe forms of
violence and the boys experienced less severe forms. For
example, girls "are much more likely to be punched and
forced to engage in sexual activity against their will"
(rape).
Boys are more likely "to be pinched, slapped, scratched,
and kicked" (Molidor: 2000). Boys also said that when they
did experience physical violence they usually did not get
hurt. However, almost 50% of the girls said the violence was
severe, that their dating partner "hurt me a lot" and
"caused bruises", and/or they "needed medical attention"
because of their injuries.
Because girls often fight back, it is likely that many of the physically violence experiences the boys report are due to girls defending themselves against their boyfriends abusing them or forcing them to have sex. Also, girls said that it was the boys who most often started the physical violence (70% of abusive acts) while boys said the girls started the abuse less than one third of the time (27%).
For more information see Dating Violence and Your Teen.
Diane G. Kuschel, Former Extension Associate, College of Human Environmental Sciences, University of Missouri Extension
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Last update: Wednesday, October 26, 2005
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