Dating violence is a pattern of harmful behaviors used to gain or maintain power and control over another individual in the context of an intimate or dating relationship that occurs between people of all ages, races, ethnicities, economic, educational, and religious backgrounds, in heterosexual and same-sex relationships, living together or separately, married or unmarried. While anyone can experience dating violence, teens and young adults are particularly vulnerable. Statistics show young women between the ages of 16 and 24 experience the highest rates of dating violence. One in 3 teens in the U.S. will experience physical, sexual, verbal, or emotional violence from a partner. Rates of teen dating violence far exceed rates of any other youth violence.
We encourage everyone to Be.the.One to Break the Cycle of unhealthy dating relationships and teen dating violence, and Fairfax County is participating in a series of events to help with that endeavor.
