Young women are at high risk of abuse in their intimate relationships with one in five subjected to emotional, physical, or sexual abuse by a current or former partner, according to new research by Women’s Aid.
The organization, which supports victims of domestic abuse, has published research indicating that 20% of women aged between 18 and 25 have been subjected to abuse by their current or former partners.
This abuse can include emotional, physical, and sexual abuse.
The number of young men who have experienced intimate relationship abuse was found to be one in 11 (9%).
The study also found that 60% of young people have experienced, or know someone who has experienced, intimate relationship abuse.
The organization also found that one in three young women never told anyone about the abuse.
Women’s Aid CEO, Sarah Benson, said no matter how ‘serious’ or lengthy the relationship is if it is abusive the impact of abuse can be “severe, long-lasting and life-changing for young women.”
Benson said: “Women’s Aid research tells us that the abuse young women are subjected by current or former male partners is both insidious and all-encompassing.
“Of the one in five young women who suffered abuse, nine in 10 were emotionally abused, and one in two were targeted with abuse online, many had also been physically abused, and coerced into sex.
“Some had been raped. Over half of the young women abused by a male partner experienced the abuse under the age of 18 as minors.”
According to Women’s Aid’s Mary Hayes, ‘Yes It’s Abuse: Young people’s understanding of & attitudes to intimate relationship abuse’ – also points to “gaps in young people’s understanding of how to spot warning signs, the root causes of abuse, where to get support and how to help friends they may be worried about.”
“We need to build a national community-based collaboration involving everyone working together to increase awareness of abuse, to challenge those behaviors and attitudes that normalize and minimize abuse – but also, vitally; to model the healthy, mutual, positive and respectful relationships which are those that we aspire to for everyone in their friendships and their intimate relationships,” Ms. Hayes, who is ‘Too Into You’ Project Lead, said.
Women’s Aid has launched a three-week public awareness campaign about abuse in relationships called ‘Too Into You’.
News credit: The journal