What is the difference in dating violence for boys and girls?
• One study showed that a little over one-third of both girls and boys said they had been physically abused by a dating partner, but the experience was much worse for girls than boys. • Girls experienced the more severe forms of violence and the boys experienced less severe forms. • For example, girls “are much more likely to be punched and forced to engage in sexual activity against their will” (rape). • Boys are more likely “to be pinched, slapped, scratched, and kicked” (Molidor: 2000). • Boys also said that when they did experience physical violence they usually did not get hurt. • However, almost 50% of the girls said the violence was severe, that their dating partner “hurt me a lot” and “caused bruises”, and/or they “needed medical attention” because of their injuries. • Because girls often fight back, it is likely that many of the physically violent experiences the boys report are due to girls defending themselves against their boyfriends abusing them or forcing them to have sex
