Role of gender stereotypes in teen dating violence relationships: Female sexual vicitimization

Teen dating violence (TDV) is a major public health issue that effects 400,000 to 900,000 adolescents each year. Girls are more likely than boys to be victims of sexual dating violence and among adult victims of rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner, 22.4% of women experienced some form of partner violence between the ages of 11 and 17. Those teens that have been in abusive relationships are likely to be in abusive domestic relationships, as well. Through various cross-sectional studies, dating violence has been associated with alcohol use, inadequate social competencies, low self-esteem, adherence to traditional gender stereotypes, depression, and acceptance of dating violence. Also, the financial consequences of dating violence can be seen in high rates of truancy, low academic performance, and teen pregnancy rates. A large ethnically diverse population of high school students were given a survey including attitudes towards women, acceptance of dating violence, and dating violence victimization measures. Through this longitudinal study I will analyze attitudes towards women (ATW) and its prediction of sexual violence victimization for females. This assessment can better inform prevention programs to include a more robust curriculum for middle schools girls regarding gender-roles and stereotypes, and influence policies regarding TDV. Women’s empowerment must start at a time when girls start to think critically about their role in the society and relationships. Empowering a young girl requires interventions during their identity formation and this in turn will better prepare them for facing and changing stereotypes within and outside their relationships.