Hello! Thanks for reading the August edition of RespecText.
We’ve really enjoyed sharing the latest in dating abuse/healthy relationship resources as part of our Love is Digital campaign. This will be our last RespecText newsletter, and we want to sincerely thank you for subscribing! If you’d like to review any of our past newsletters, be sure to check out the RespecText archive. Of course, www.loveisrespect.org isn’t going anywhere, and our advocates are always here to answer questions and provide support to teens, parents and anyone who is affected by dating abuse. Just call 1-866-331-9474, chat at www.loveisrespect.org or text loveis to 22522.
Tools for Teens
- Bummed about the summer ending? Hold on to that last bit of freedom and ease into the new school year with the Healthy Relationships Playlist: Summer Edition! We love these songs that explore issues like trust, breaking up, love and honesty in healthy ways. Check it out and be sure to follow us on Spotify!
News Bits
- Earlier this month the loveisrespect team held a “Healthy Relationships Huddle” at Skyline High School in Dallas, TX. We spoke with the varsity football team and coaches about dating abuse and building healthy relationships. Read more about the event and see pics on our blog.
- Our National Youth Advisory Board wrapped up their summer SPF15 (Safe Partners & Friends 2015) campaign.
Advocate’s Corner
- This season of Teen Mom 2 on MTV has been full of examples of unhealthy and abusive relationship behaviors, resulting in www.loveisrespect.org being aired during certain episodes as a resource for viewers in similar situations. Shows like Teen Mom 2 can offer great opportunities to talk with teens and young adults about why the situations were abusive. This season we’ve seen verbal abuse such as name calling and yelling, as well as the physical abuse of Jenelle by her boyfriend Nathan (resulting in his arrest). Our website can be helpful in addressing these issues with young adults and teens; check out How to “Fight” Fair, healthy Conflict Resolution, Calling the Police and Restraining Orders.
- Lately many news outlets have focused on rap artist Dr. Dre and his history of violence against women, following the theatrical release of the biopic Straight Outta Compton and Dre’s new album, Compton. Dr. Dre has apologized for his past behavior, citing his youth and a drinking problem (which he notes are not excuses for violent behavior). What’s troubling for many people is the lack of acknowledgment of his violent past, particularly in the film, by media and critics. Of course, at loveisrespect, we believe that there is never an excuse for any kind of abuse, and that being abusive is a choice a person makes. While it’s possible for people who are abusive to change, accountability has to be a part of that change. This is another opportunity to start a conversation with young people about the dynamics of abuse, the disbelief (or blame) that victims often experience from others, and holding people accountable for their actions.
Powerful Resources
Self-care is so important – we talk about it a lot at loveisrespect! One of our favorite sites to recommend for self-care is Calm.com, where people of all ages can discover the power of meditation. They offer apps for Android and iPhone, too!
