Sixth graders with boyfriends or girlfriends. Middle schoolers going on dates.
Not uncommon, says a new national survey released today.
Roughly half of 1,043 “tweens,” aged 11 to 14, who participated in the study are now or have been in dating relationships, says the Tween and Teen Dating Violence and Abuse Survey conducted by the National Domestic Violence Hotline (NDVH) and Liz Claiborne Inc.
Perhaps more surprisingly, almost 30 percent of these young teens think oral sex and sexual intercourse are expected in a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship. And hundreds of tweens report that their dating partners have harassed them, bossed them around or tried to monopolize their time.
A few even report physical abuse, such as hitting, slapping or kicking, or being pressured into having oral sex or intercourse.
“We’re talking about a whole new cycle of abuse,” said Sheryl Cates, chief executive of the NDVH. This new generation needs more education and services about healthy relationships, she said.
Relationships can turn sour quickly, said a 13-year-old California girl identified only as Kylie.
