What is dating violence

Dating violence is when a person in a relationship physically, emotionally, or sexually abuses their partner. 

If you think you may be experiencing dating violence, it is important to remember that any form of violence is never okay.

Dating violence may include 

• Pushing, shoving, grabbing
• Scratching, biting, spitting
• Punching, slapping, kicking, choking
• Slamming a partner against a wall
• Threats
• Insults
• Criticism
• Name-calling
• Threatening to “out” a partner’s sexual orientation or gender identity
• Making a partner feel inferior
• Making a partner feel guilty
• Isolating a partner from friends, family, and others. For example, enforcing rules about who they can and can’t hang out with.
• Giving a partner the “silent treatment”
• Threatening to break up with a partner
• Stalking
• Sexual assault
• Rape
• Any sexual activity without consent 
• Coercing or persuading a partner to do something they don’t want to do.
• Refusing to use birth control or restricting a partner’s access to birth control