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Young women are today introduced into the world of dating and relationships much earlier and more harshly than were previous generations. Most navigate or cope with the new terrain, but many are victimized. Freedom from strictures and structures of the past has not had universally positive effects.
For example, according to a recent report in the Journal of the American Medical Association, violence is a normal part of the dating ritual for a significant number of adolescents (most often perpetrated, of course, by boys upon girls). An average of 9.5% of girls surveyed reported physical abuse; nearly 4% reported sexual abuse and 6% reported both. Abused girls are also more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol, engage in risky sexual behavior, get pregnant, adopt unhealthful eating practices and attempt suicide. Although the...