28 minute read
art is political [pg
from February 2022
Marriage Traditions; Inherently Sexist
By ASHLEY CHAN
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Staff Writer
The notion of marriage seems like a dream come true for many little girls and boys. The highly fantasized idea of the wedding dress and suit that the couple would wear, the vows to be exchanged, the bridesmaids and groomsmen, the reception, the first dance as husband and wife, and the peaceful honeymoon that follows. However, the wedding ceremony is not as dreamy as one might imagine. Much of the wedding is riddled with inherently sexist traditions that have no place in modern day society.
Everybody is aware of the classic white wedding dress that is an iconic symbol of marriage. However, this white wedding dress has a history of representing purity, innocence, and virginity. This white color is considered a standard for brides, even if it was not chosen with its historical significance in mind.
According to Time, white is an “emblem of the purity and innocence of girlhood, and the unsullied heart she now yields to the chosen one.”
This equates purity and innocence to the bride’s value as a woman, demonstrating how the implication of a white dress can degrade or shame a bride if she does not meet society’s idea of purity; society’s idea of purity is that a woman should abstain from all sexual matters until marriage. Regardless, why should her purity matter, especially when the groom is not expected to walk down the aisle wearing white as well?
Not only is the white wedding dress derived from patriarchal culture, but the veil is as well. The veil is traditionally supposed to be worn by the bride until the groom or her father removed it. Traditionally, the veil is also meant to represent the groom’s right to consummate the marriage, and not hers. Additionally, the lifting of the veil defaces the bride, while the groom is unscathed by this tradition.
More obviously, the “giving away” of the bride oozes sexism. This tradition began when brides were their father’s property, and were given away with a dowry. Basically, this is the transition from a bride being their father’s property to being their husband’s property. The passing of the bride from the father to the groom undermines the bride’s independence, and the need for a father’s approval diminishes the bride’s voice. This sexist practice can simply be altered by allowing the bride to walk down the aisle with whomever she likes, and by having the bride walk to the groom her self- a dem onstration of her free choice. Otherwise, the marriage becomes increasingly like a transaction with the passing of the bride.
This iconic phrase,“you may now kiss the bride,” is said as if the bride does not have her own say or authority over the marriage. Rather than giving permission to both the bride and groom, it only gives a “go-ahead” to the groom. Why not say “you may now kiss each other” instead of only giving authority to the groom?
Another most common and notable change after marriage is the alteration of the bride’s last name. It has become normalized for the bride to change her last name to her husband’s last name. In this manner, her family name and identity get stripped away as she enters this marriage, while the groom gets to keep his identity. The adoption of a new last name highlights how the bride never had her “own” last name. After all, she formerly used her father’s last name and simply transitioned into taking her husband’s last name. Meaning, she is always seen as someone else’s and not her own.
Marriage should be a union between two equal halves coming together to forge a whole. Unfortunately, some marriage traditions have sexism embedded into its nature. With the progression of society, there could be emerging means to combat the sexist system that found roots in marriage traditions.
achan@arcadiaquill.com Graphics courtesy of FONTS.COM and FREESVG.ORG
Art is Political
By KIRA CAMACHO
Staff Writer
All art is political. It can be of any medium; painting, song, poem, writing— it all has some political substance, even if it wasn’t exactly created that way. In her TedTalk, “Using your Voice as a Political Choice,” Amanda Gorman spoke about how her art, poetry, is political. It can’t be anything else. Gorman explained how when she is asked to write poems that “aren’t political” it doesn’t make sense, she can’t write an unpolitical poem. “To me [writing poems that aren’t political] sounds like I have to draw a square, but not make it a rectangle or, like, build a car and not make it a vehicle. It doesn’t make much sense,” she said.
Especially in today’s political climate, there are plenty of issues for artists to comment on. For example, musicians like Jack White frequently voice their opinions in everyday life as well as in song.
Icky Thump by the White Stripes “[confronts] America’s contentious immigration policies,” wrote Denis Sullivan in Rolling Stone.
The powerful, hard-rock song is perfect for expressing the group’s anger against immigration policies.
In 2018, Jack White dedicated the song to Donald Trump by adding Trump’s name to the lyrics and vocalizing his criticisms against the former President. Lyrics and music written by a musician is directly from their brain; inevitably, it will have their ideals and opinions.
A lot of well-known songs actually have political meanings; Fortnuate Son by Creedence Clearwater Revival, Zombie by The Cranberries, and Give Peace a Chance by the Plastic Ono Band. These songs fueled an angry generation, and continue to do so today.
The political aspects of art aren’t only from modern years. This practice goes back to 1338, when the Council of Nine was looking to send a message to the Republic of Siena. The message was a fresco, titled The Allegory of Good and Bad Government by Ambrogio Lorenzetti. The three paneled fresco dramatically illustrated the various effects of good and bad government.
The patron, the Council of Nine, was a civic group of the time. The Republic of Siena was one of the most powerful Italian city-states. The fresco commissioned by the Nine reminded the magistrates of how much was at stake. The chaotic examples of bad government, and gargantuan size helped the fresco to easily grab the attention of its audience. Not only was the piece political, but a perfect way to send a warning to the Republic.
In 1967, an oil painting was made by Liu Chunhua called Chairman Mao en route to Anyuan. Not only was this painting a beautiful landscape work by Chunhua, but it was also communist propaganda. The piece was a result of the Cultural Revolution, a period in which artists had to create “Mao paintings,” in order to help Zedong reassert his authority over the Chinese government. Very political.
The painting depicted a young Zedong, who was in his seventies at the time, as one of the common people. He stands on a cliff above the clouds and mountains, ready to conquer anything. At first glance, the painting doesn’t seem political at all. With no context, you can only assume that the man in this painting is of some sort of nobility. In comparison to the obvious Allegory of Good and Bad Government, this painting is subtle in its political ideals. Though you may not notice the political meaning of art, it always has one.
So, Amanda Gorman is right, “all art is political. The decision to create, the artistic choice to have a voice, the choice to be heard is the most political act of all.”
FEBRUARY 2022
theopinionsection@gmail.com Imposter Syndrome
By KATE DE PRIMA
Staff Writer
For most art schools the regular application date lands somewhere in the end of January and the start of February, with many schools having rolling admissions that close when the fall semester starts. These late deadlines seem to encourage applicants to procrastinate — and no doubt we do — but they are also to grant more time for applicants to build the best portfolio (a collection of one’s best works) possible.
I’ve been working on my apps for about a year. I’d make pieces, show them to teachers to get feedback, and then apply all the advice to a completely new artwork. I’d attend classes and complete tons of assignments only to leave the class satisfied with none of them. Almost all the pieces in my portfolio were made 3 weeks before the deadline — so does that mean I really deserve to get into a school?
See, if I was a good enough artist, then it shouldn’t have taken me so long to create portfolio-worthy pieces. If I spent more time drawing, then I could’ve gotten even better, right? But I am a good artist; I’m proud of my portfolio, and it’s the kind of work I want to keep making. Imposter syndrome just doesn’t let me see it that way.
Imposter syndrome is the experience of feeling like you’re a phony. It makes you feel like no matter how skilled you are at what you do, you are a fraud. Through the time I was working on my portfolio, I felt I was undeserving of getting into a school, like I was ridiculous to even be applying to art schools. Working on my portfolio was fun; I liked being able to test my skills and limits and working to overcome those limits. But there’s a difference between overcoming a physical barrier and breaking through a mental one.
I’ve been dreaming of applying to art schools since I was in middle school — yet I couldn’t help but feel like I hadn’t worked hard enough to earn it. The last few days I accomplished so little because I was already dreading having to hit the submit button. I was convinced that when I did, admissions would open my portfolio, take one look at my work and laugh that I even had the audacity to apply.
Adding artworks to a college portfolio is so difficult because you feel like you have to get a formula just perfect. There needs to be a good balance of technical skill but also enough work that projects your personality and you as a person. At the end of the day, that’s all an application is – a projection of a person you think is capable and worthy of getting into a college. Like the saying goes: “Fake ‘til you make it” – especially when you feel like an imposter.
After that, after the rush of applications is over and all the all-nighters are pulled, realize that you are the same person represented in your application, the one who’s capable of getting into a school. Sure, that may be a temporary version of yourself, but we all change and grow as time goes on. Imposter syndrome can make it feel like you didn’t try hard enough or you’re unworthy of something—but finishing an application is a feat within itself! So allow yourself to celebrate and rest from your hard work…I know I will.
Motivation Means Nothing Without Discipline
By DARIN BUENALUZ
Staff Writer
Motivation is a key component of achieving success in life, whether it be academic or personal accomplishment. It grants a large boost of confidence, and shifts one’s mindset into believing that anything is possible. However, from life experiences and ones I gained during my time in the Naval Sea Cadet Corps, I have learned that motivation holds no merit without discipline.
The interdependent relationship between motivation and discipline is similar to that of the ignition and gas pedal in a car. A car’s ignition turns on the vehicle, ready to be used at will by the driver. The car can go anywhere at any speed, and has a variety of components that will get it to its destination. However, simply turning on the ignition of a car doesn’t make it move. Pressing down on the gas pedal is what actually makes the car go forward and reach destinations. Without the gas pedal, the car remains stationary. Similarly, motivation ignites our drive to better ourselves and to reach our goals: both big and small. It also increases our situational awareness of what we have at our disposal to reach our ambitions and how to use them. Nevertheless, our sense of discipline is what pushes us to use our resources and achieve what we want to achieve.
Furthermore, the motivation to succeed is a fleeting sensation as it doesn’t last forever. It is also very fragile; the smallest of factors, such as our mood or a change in our schedule, can kill our motivation as quickly as it is gained. Things like procrastination and mood changes are an inevitability in life, but they can ground our productivity when the confidence gained from motivation dissipates. After all, being productive is considerably more difficult if there’s not a solid reason as to why we believe we should be. As such, it is crucial that we discipline ourselves on being productive as soon as we have the motivation to do so.
According to an article in Second Nature, “The most successful people use a combination of discipline and intrinsic motivation to achieve their goals.”
Gaining motivation isn’t particularly difficult. Setting up a reward for yourself once you finish a task is a good way to self-motivate. However, discipline, which requires developing and maintaining a structured schedule and overall good habits, is more difficult to attain. Discipline requires trying a lot of different methods of forming new behaviors, which subsequently results in a lot of trial and error. Starting with smaller levels of discipline, such as timing yourself on how long it takes you to get ready in the morning, is a good start. Discipline, like motivation, can also form confidence: the difference is that confidence gained from discipline only grows over time instead of diminishing. When we gain confidence from being able to discipline ourselves on smaller things, that confidence snowballs until we feel confident enough to maintain discipline on a larger, more time consuming scale.
Despite this, discipline can cause a mental or physical burnout if it’s not done correctly. If one is focused entirely on productiveness and work, it means they are neglecting to take time and take care of their mental and physical health. When done right, discipline not only means having a structure for productivity, but a structure for well being.
In a report from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention regarding mental health in the workplace, “Depression interferes with a person’s ability to complete physical job tasks about 20% of the time and reduces cognitive performance about 35% of the time.” Motivation is one of the most important resources that a person can have in order to accomplish great things, but it takes consistent discipline to make the most use out of that motivation. When discipline accompanies motivation, the ceiling for self improvement can only go up for every personal achievement. High school is a time that provides endless sources of motivation for students to push themselves beyond what they think they’re capable of, from surviving difficult classes to establishing new relationships. All of these goals and more can be reached through self- discipline and all constructive habits that it helps build.
WHY IS THE MCDONALDS MACHINE ALWAYS BROKEN?
SEEKEATS: A BLOOMING PLATFORM
By SOHANA SAHNI
Staff Writer
Throughout time, there has been a common question plaguing generations of Americans: Why is the McDonald’s ice cream machine always broken? The lack of reliability in McDonald’s ice cream machines is often not a conditional thing, in fact, it has become so common that there are even websites to track broken machines across the U.S.
The fallibility of the ice cream machine is a source of anger and frustration for many.
“This one time during middle school, I went after school to buy ice cream from
McDonald’s and they said the ice cream machine was broken so I left,” said sophomore Ethan Chen. Recently, the FTC has decided to take matters into its own hands to solve this dire problem. Over the summer, the Federal Trade Commision contacted McDonald’s franchise owners to gain new information on the malfunctioning ice-cream machines. Through the information of its employees, it is well known that the machine is hard to manage for staff. The device requires a nightly cleaning cycle that can fail and requires a technician to fix it. The Biden Administration has begun
looking into whether manufacturing companies have been blocking owners from fixing these broken products themselves. This sentiment is not uncommon, and advocates of the “right to repair” movement have also fought for the same thing. Activists in this community believe that companies should make it easier for their clients to repair their products and consumer electronics. The FTC introduced laws in July which push back against manufacturers and protect the “right to repair”. “The policy statement adopted today is aimed at manufacturers’ practices that make it extremely difficult for purchasers to repair their products or shop around for other service providers to do it for them. By enforcing against restrictions that violate antitrust or consumer protection laws, the Commission is taking important steps to restore the right to repair,” says the FTC website. McDonalds continues to make promises to improve on its fast food delivery service. “Nothing is more important to us than delivering on our high standards for food quality and safety, which is why we work with fully vetted partners that can reliably provide safe solutions at scale,” said McDonald’s USA in a statement with NPR. “The art of the broken McDonald’s ice cream machines. So mysterious, sultry, classic, and a defining experience of going to McDonalds. Sweet victory tastes like artificial vanilla bean. Winning the unpredictability of whether the Donald Gods are in your favor tastes glorious,” said Sophomore ASB President Kelly Cheng. For the meantime, McDonalds has promised to begin troubleshooting with new solutions by training their workers better and instituting more frequent checks on the machines. Thanks to new FTC regulations we can all hopefully look forward to a future filled with more McDonalds ice cream. ssahni@arcadiaquill.com Graphic Courtesy of WIKIMEDIACOMMONS
By SABRINA LO
Staff Writer Seekeats is a platform that was created by Phillip Lau, a former Arcadia High School (AHS) student. Lau is a senior at University of Southern California and is currently studying Economics, Business Finance, and Applied Analytics. In addition to Lau, AHS students junior Jocelyn Wang and senior Rebecca Tao contribute to the platform. They work with Marketing and Business Development for SeekEats. Sabrina: What is Seekeats? Can you please give a brief description about the platform? Phillip: SeekEats is a USC based startup focused on giving local businesses advertising in exchange for exclusive discounts on specific days. We provide a platform for local businesses who lack an online social media presence to advertise and promote their discounts and seasonal promotions in the same location as all of the other businesses in the area. This way, users can conveniently see all of the local discounts and deals in their area in the same congregated place, and decide where to go based on the discount incentive. Sabrina: Is there an a source of inspiration that led you to create this platform? Phillip: I did not have previous experience with entrepreneurship as I am studying Economics & Finance. I will be working at a $2.21 trillion dollar investment management firm called PIMCO in the near future, but over quarantine, I just knew that I had an idea and wanted to give it a shot. I wanted to create something that would impact the community and could be usable by everyone I know. Sabrina: Your website says “local food alerts on the go.” Does local refer only to Arcadia? Phillip: We started out with our first businesses in the Arcadia, Temple City area, but we have just recently gotten our first business partner at USC. We plan to expand throughout the 626 and in LA near the USC area. Sabrina: What kind of restaurants are you currently partnering with? Phillip: We are currently partnered with 12 local businesses including Wushiland Boba, Tancca, Chatime Arcadia, Poke Bar Arcadia, 7/11 Monrovia, White Springs Cafe, Goki Cafe, Clover Leaf Cafe & Bakery, Cup o Joy, Sunday’s Old Town Bistro, Cafe Roule, and Chris’s KBBQ. We are open to partnering with any local businesses in our area that are interested in joining the SeekEats network. Sabrina: To Arcadia students who aspire to start their own business/platform, could you give some advice to them? Phillip: The main advice that I would give students would be to first properly think about their idea and do some research regarding whether or not there would actually be demand or interest in whatever they wanted to make. After that, if you confirm and believe that you have a good idea, you have nothing to lose, just go for it. A proper collaborative team environment will make all the difference when the going gets tough! You can follow Seekeats’ journey on their website and Instagram page. Though the platform is still new, they provide an innovative way for customers and business owners to get what they want.
slo@arcadiaquill.com Graphic Courtesy of SEEKEATS
MY SCALY PET: REPTILE OWNER SPOTLIGHT
By MICHELLE SO
Staff Writer Reptiles are undeniably one of the most underrated class of pets. The term ‘reptile’ refers to snakes, lizards, turtles, tortoises, alligators, and everything in between. There is an unspoken misconception that they just exist to sit in the crusty fishtank of a nerd’s garage. “What’s that over there?” “It’s just a lizard” “Oh.” Occasionally evoking looks of disgust or “ew”, these cold-blooded animals don’t deserve to be misunderstood. I, myself, am an owner of a RES (reptile slang for ‘Red-eared slider’) turtle. I named her Squirtle in fourth grade, after the adorable turtle pokemon. It’s been over 6 years since then, and she continues to be a huge part of our family. Though not the most interactive pet, she does have some quirks. Squirtle hates being touched and will go to great lengths to get a bite of human flesh, so sticking my hand into her enclosure is a big no. Instead, I feed her treats–broccoli, boiled eggs, and bugs–using tongs. This was not how I envisioned life with a Red-eared slider would be, which are amongst the friendliest of turtle species. It’s just an example of how, while it may not seem obvious, every animal has its own personality. And Squirtle has yet to come out of her shell–pun intended! I met up with sophomore Nisa Qureshi over video call to hear more about the reptile owner experience. Qureshi is a self-proclaimed animal lover and, at any given moment, has her hands full with her four tortoises, backyard chickens, and a bearded dragon. For the interview, Mintu, one of Qureshi’s tortoises, rested sleepily on a towel beside her, occasionally gifting us a precious yawn. “She’s supposed to slowly come out of hibernation now,” Qureshi explained. “Today was one of the days I was going to check up on her. So that’s why I brought her with me.” Qureshi’s tortoises, Pintu, Mintu, Chintu, and Sultan, are all “freerange”, and roam around the entire backyard grazing and digging burrows. Pintu, Mintu, and Chintu are all California Desert tortoises and came from the same clutch of eggs. Sultan, however, easily stands out
amongst his shelled companions. “[Sultan] is a big Sulcata tortoise that’s like, three feet wide, and he has, like, a whole entire personality,” she exclaimed. “I was feeding him cucumber today, and he’s a bit lazy, and he doesn’t like to walk. I moved the cucumber closer so he could walk and get it. He just stood there looking at me. He’s like, ‘No, I’m not going to walk. You have to feed it to me.’” Sultan’s stubborn antics are just one example of the colorful interactions Qureshi has had with her reptiles. During online class last year, she tried to show off her bearded dragon, Spike, to classmates. As she brought Spike closer to the camera, he broke free from her hold, skittered to the computer, defecated (on the keyboard!), and ran. The incident had Qureshi cracking up, as she assured me that it smelled “really, really bad.” On the other, the less-legged end of the reptile spectrum lies the more feared and misunderstood snakes. Mr. Craig Monden teaches Biology and Biology Honors at AHS and happens to belong to the rare group of people who enjoy the company of snakes. He says many students are often intrigued, or frightened, by the glossy, black snake that resides in the middle of his class. “His name is Sam and he’s Kingsnake. A Sonoran Kingsnake,” said Mr. Monden.
The story of how Mr. Monden acquired Sam goes back a long way. He grew up in Hawaii, where keeping pet snakes is illegal, due to the lack of natural predators. As a result, Mr. Monden became fascinated with them. “I grew up reading about snakes in books and always wondered what a snake is or how it can move that fast without legs. It’s such a weird concept to me,” he said. “When I got to the mainland, I said, ‘Okay, the first thing I’m going to do is buy a snake.’” He actually ended up buying three. The first two, garter snakes, sadly perished, but Sam has survived and has been doing well ever since. In fact, Sam has been doing a bit too well. The person whom Mr. Monden bought Sam from claimed the species only lived 8 to 10 years, but Sam is going on 23-years-old this year. “Either I’m taking really good care of him or somebody lied to me,” Mr. Monden joked. What’s not a joke is how insanely long most reptiles live with proper care. A well kept snake can easily reach double digits while certain tortoises are known to outlive their owners. Yep, you heard that right. Pet reptiles are a lifelong endeavor, and it’s important not to jump headfirst into the hobby. Qureshi did weeks worth of research before getting Spike the bearded dragon, but it wasn’t until she actually got him that she learned about their need for regular nail trimming. “It’s really hard because he hates when I hold his hand,” Qureshi said, stifling a laugh. “So right when he falls asleep, I cut his nails then.” Manicure for a pet lizard isn’t all that crazy when you understand the role that reptiles play in their owners’ lives. Not exactly as affectionseeking as dogs or cats, reptiles are more of a platonic love; they accept the devotion we provide but don’t ask for more than the bare minimum. Yet, as it remains to be said, snakes are not cool to everyone. These chill animals, which would rather be basking than attacking you, are one of the most common fears amongst adults, and for no logical reason! “Every animal in the world bites and a snake doesn’t bite any more frequently than any other animal,” said Mr. Monden. “Like Sam, for example. You don’t have to worry about Sam biting. Unless you’re a mouse, or you smell like meat. Then those are two things that I would be cautious about.” In sum, reptiles are wondrously underrated as animals and as pets. They deserve more than what the media gives them. With the proper husbandry, these scalyskinned creatures can be more than just objects of admiration, they can be lifelong companions.
By CHLOE WONG
If you’ve ever felt anxious at the sight of your crush or wondered if you should finally confess your feelings in fifth period, then you may already know that it’s easy for teens to get swept up in the idea of romance. This rings especially true every time February comes around. During this month, gestures of affection transpire in hall ways; valentines, roses, and carnation grams are exchanged. Still, it’s important to remember that February isn’t only a time to recognize true love and St. Valentine.
Every year in February, the nation observes Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. Officially recognized by Congress in 2010, Teen Dating Violence Aware ness Month is a time to discuss violence in teen relationships and offer support to those who’ve survived it. In general, dating violence can be physical, mental, sexual, or emotional. Common signs of dating violence include stalking, physical abuse, and pressuring someone into sexual acts—however, controlling or irrational behavior, such as trying to restrict someone’s actions and friendships, can also be critical red flags.
While all age demographics experience dating violence, abuse is especially prevalent in teen relationships. Approximately 1 in 10 teens have experienced abuse at the hands of a partner. This is because adolescents are far from emotionally mature: being incredibly vulnerable to emotions like jealousy, teens are more likely to find themselves involved in volatile, unhealthy relationships. Teen dating violence can also result from the cycle of abuse, as children who witness violence at home tend to mirror it in their own rela tionships, either through eventually experiencing abuse or committing abuse themselves.
Just as with adult relationships, dating violence leaves lasting impacts on ado lescents. It can lead to permanent physical and mental damage: for example, teen agers who experience dating violence have a greater chance of becoming suicid al, and are also vulnerable to drug and alcohol use. Moreover, unhealthy dating habits frequently carry over into adulthood—this means that abused teens have a higher chance of being victimized again in college. Along with these other fac tors, dating violence can also cause anxiety, depression, and antisocial behavior.
With awareness surrounding dating violence on the rise, organizations such as Teen Dating Violence Month and Dating Matters offer helpful resources about domestic abuse. In particular, Dating Matters places an emphasis on preventative measures against teen dating violence—specifically, learning what healthy relationships look like at a young age may prevent someone from becoming involved with an abusive partner later on. If you believe you may be experiencing dating violence, consider adjusting your circle of friends to include those you feel safe with, and talk to a trusted adult about your situation. You may also want to contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE.
Teen relationships are typically perceived as youthful and exhilarating—that’s why high school couples figure in some of the most well-known romantic comedies ever made. However, while teen relationships can certainly be fun and sweet, it’s also important to raise awareness surrounding the dysfunction that can sometimes accom pany them. February is a time that’s saturated by the concept of love—this Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, ensure that yours is healthy and sustainable.
Campus Focus Editor
If you’ve ever felt anxious at the sight of your crush or wondered if you should finally confess your feelings in fifth period, then you may already know that it’s easy for teens to get swept up in the idea of romance. This rings especially true every time February comes around. During this month, gestures of affection transpire in hallways; valentines, roses, and carnation grams are exchanged. Still, it’s important to remember that February isn’t only a time to recognize true love and St. Valentine.
Every year in February, the nation observes Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. Officially recognized by Congress in 2010, Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month is a time to discuss violence in teen relationships and offer support to those who’ve survived it. In general, dating violence can be physical, mental, sexual, or emotional. Common signs of dating violence include stalking, physical abuse, and pressuring someone into sexual acts—however, controlling or irrational behavior, such as trying to restrict someone’s actions and friendships, can also be critical red flags.
While all age demographics experience dating violence, abuse is especially prevalent in teen relationships. Approximately 1 in 10 teens have experienced abuse at the hands of a partner. This is because adolescents are far from emotionally mature: being incredibly vulnerable to emotions like jealousy, teens are more likely to find themselves involved in volatile, unhealthy relationships. Teen dating violence can also result from the cycle of abuse, as children who witness violence at home tend to mirror it in their own relationships, either through eventually experiencing abuse or committing abuse themselves.
Just as with adult relationships, dating violence leaves lasting impacts on adolescents. It can lead to permanent physical and mental damage: for example, teenagers who experience dating violence have a greater chance of becoming suicidal, and are also vulnerable to drug and alcohol use. Moreover, unhealthy dating habits frequently carry over into adulthood—this means that abused teens have a higher chance of being victimized again in college. Along with these other factors, dating violence can also cause anxiety, depression, and antisocial behavior.
With awareness surrounding dating violence on the rise, organizations such as Teen Dating Violence Month and Dating Matters offer helpful resources about domestic abuse. In particular, Dating Matters places an emphasis on preventative measures against teen dating violence—specifically, learning what healthy relationships look like at a young age may prevent someone from becoming involved with an abusive partner later on. If you believe you may be experiencing dating violence, consider adjusting your circle of friends to include those you feel safe with, and talk to a trusted adult about your situation. You may also want to contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE.
Teen relationships are typically perceived as youthful and exhilarating—that’s why high school couples figure in some of the most well-known romantic comedies ever made. However, while teen relationships can certainly be fun and sweet, it’s also important to raise awareness surrounding the dysfunction that can sometimes accompany them. February is a time that’s saturated by the concept of love—this Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, ensure that yours is healthy and sustainable.
