Teens learn that abuse can hide in many forms

SHARON — Teens were given a lesson in dating violence during a program sponsored by the Hotchkiss Library of Sharon on Thursday, Aug. 20. 

The program was led by Rebecca Cohen, the child advocate and community educator with Women’s Support Services. It was part of the library’s initiative to reach out to the teen population in town with relevant speakers and programs.

Cohen began the evening by reading statistics about teens and dating violence including: One in three teens experiences some form of dating violence, she said. One in eleven reports being the victim of physical abuse, and one in three reports knowing a friend who is or was involved in a violent relationship. 

She then defined the term “abuse” and discussed the forms it can take. 

Physical abuse, she explained, is defined by physical acts of violence such as hitting, punching or otherwise inflicting pain. 

Emotional and verbal abuse are defined by acts such as insulting, manipulating or causing someone to feel bad about themselves in any manner. According to Cohen, the most common form of abuse is emotional, which is also sometimes that hardest form to detect or document.

Cohen said that domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women between the ages of 15 and 44 in the United States. It is responsible for more injuries than automobile accidents, muggings and rape combined.

Participants were then given a “role” card that outlined a story involving two characters who are engaged in some form of abuse. As the story progressed, participants were asked to choose from among several options for the next course of action in the story, based on what they would do if they were in that situation. As each decision was made, the story proceeded toward either a positive or negative result, showing the participants how their choices can have either a positive or negative influence on the outcome of any “abusive” situation or relationship.

One story involved an African American boy who went to live with his grandmother following the death of his mother and abandonment by his father.  The young man was in a relationship with an affluent caucasian female, whose father was a workaholic lawyer and whose mother was an alcoholic who often told the girl she was a “mistake.” 

The girl often intimidated the boy and manipulated him emotionally with her comments and behavior, to the point where the young man wanted to end the relationship but couldn’t because he was afraid of how she would react.

Following the role play, Cohen led a discussion about each of the stories, and answered questions about abuse from the teen participants and their parents.

Women’s Support Services is based in Sharon and can be reached at 860-364-1900, or go to www. www.wssdv.org.