Date Violence

I was going to take a blogging break this weekend, but this came across my desk and I can't understand the thinking these days from a delicate part of our population that condones violence. It's a sad commentary of the self-worth of adolescence. Please, let's stop the violence and not condone it by our silence!

********* (EXCERPT)

BOSTON - A survey conducted by the Boston Public Health Commission on the dating violence incident involving pop music idols Chris Brown and Rihanna revealed that nearly half of Boston youths surveyed said she was “responsible” for what happened while 52 percent said they were both to blame. Nearly half say Rihanna was responsible for the incident with Chris Brown.

“The story of Chris Brown and Rihanna may have happened 3,000 miles away, but it is very much a Boston story,” said Casey Corcoran, director of the Public Health Commission’s new Start Strong program.

Corcoran’s program, housed in the Commission’s Division of Violence Prevention, surveyed 200 Bostonyouth ages 12 to 19, between Feb. 13 and 20, using the Chris Brown-Rihanna case to gauge their attitudes toward teen dating violence; 100 percent of those surveyed had heard about the incident.
Among the findings:

71% said arguing was a normal part of a relationship

44% said fighting was a normal part of a relationship

51% said Chris Brown was responsible for the incident

46% said Rihanna was responsible for the incident

52% said both individuals were to blame for the incident, despite knowing at the time that
Rihanna had been beaten badly enough to require hospital treatment

35% said the media were treating Rihanna unfairly

52% said the media were treating Chris Brown unfairly


In addition, a significant number of males and females in the survey said Rihanna was destroying Chris Brown’s career, and females were no less likely than males to come to Rihanna’s defense.

“Boston parents need to be aware that our children are facing a crisis,” said Emily F. Rothman, assistant professor in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the Boston University School of Public Health, and an advisor to the Boston Start Strong initiative. “Ten percent of Massachusetts youth report having experienced dating violence during their lifetimes. The consequences of dating violence can be severe and long-lasting. Teen dating violence victimization can be a precursor to adult violence victimization, and can increase risky behaviors during adolescence,
including substance use, unhealthy dieting and weight control practices, and suicidal behavior,” she said.

“The case provides all of us with an opportunity to have this conversation with the young people in our lives, and it should serve as a reminder that no one---not even the rich and famous---are immune to abuse.”