There is often immense pressure amongst teenagers to have the best relationship. This often stems from a variety of sources, like personal insecurities and societal narratives about what a relationship is meant to look and feel like. For many developing teens, these forces can lead to unrealistic expectations about what they will encounter in their relationships. They can also lead teens to become overly dependent on their partners for external validation.
The culture of the 21st century has fundamentally transformed teen relationships, bringing with it new benefits and challenges. Increased access to the personal details of others via digital communication has led to youth knowing more about their peers and partners than ever before.
The month of June is a time when many celebrate Pride and the milestones achieved in the fight for equality, visibility, and the freedom to love openly. It is also a time to reflect on the challenges the LGBTQ+ community has faced throughout history and continues to face today. From discriminatory legislation, barriers in accessing basic services, and for some, losing their support system. LGBTQ+ community members are also susceptible to encountering obstacles that threaten their safety and well-being.
Netflix’s second season of Worst Ex Ever is difficult to watch—not because the violence is shocking, but because it is familiar.
The first episode, which chronicles the case of Wade Wilson, the so-called “Deadpool Killer,” exposes something advocates and survivors have always known: many perpetrators do not begin with murder. They begin with coercion, strangulation, sexual assault, stalking, and intimate partner violence. And too often, they are allowed to continue escalating because systems fail to respond.
Leaving an abusive partner is already an incredibly difficult decision many survivors make, and when children are involved, it becomes exponentially more complicated. According to a report carried out by the U.S. Department of Justice, “[thirty to sixty percent] of perpetrators of domestic violence also abuse children in the household.”
There is often immense pressure amongst teenagers to have the best relationship. This often stems from a variety of sources, like personal insecurities and societal narratives about what a relationship is meant to look and feel like. For many developing teens, these forces can lead to unrealistic expectations about what they will encounter in their relationships. They can also lead teens to become overly dependent on their partners for external validation.
The month of June is a time when many celebrate Pride and the milestones achieved in the fight for equality, visibility, and the freedom to love openly. It is also a time to reflect on the challenges the LGBTQ+ community has faced throughout history and continues to face today. From discriminatory legislation, barriers in accessing basic services, and for some, losing their support system. LGBTQ+ community members are also susceptible to encountering obstacles that threaten their safety and well-being.
Netflix’s second season of Worst Ex Ever is difficult to watch—not because the violence is shocking, but because it is familiar.
The first episode, which chronicles the case of Wade Wilson, the so-called “Deadpool Killer,” exposes something advocates and survivors have always known: many perpetrators do not begin with murder. They begin with coercion, strangulation, sexual assault, stalking, and intimate partner violence. And too often, they are allowed to continue escalating because systems fail to respond.
Leaving an abusive partner is already an incredibly difficult decision many survivors make, and when children are involved, it becomes exponentially more complicated. According to a report carried out by the U.S. Department of Justice, “[thirty to sixty percent] of perpetrators of domestic violence also abuse children in the household.”
La Casa de las Madres (Home of the Mothers) has come a long way from the small grassroots organization it was when it was founded in 1976. As we celebrate our 50th anniversary, we reflect on who we are, the challenges we have faced, and how—through it all—we have remained committed to our mission: supporting survivors and their families with comprehensive services and shelter, working toward a future free from violence.
In recognition of Women's History Month, we want to honor the legacy of the Battered Women's Movement. Historically, Domestic Violence has been categorized as a form of gender-based violence due to the disproportionate number of survivors who identify as Women. That said, it would be remiss not to acknowledge that anyone can be a survivor of relationship violence, regardless of gender, age, background, etc.
