Myth: Teen dating violence isn´t really that serious.
Fact: Thirty percent of all women who are murdered in this country are killed by their husband or boyfriend. According to a Massachusetts study, that same high percentage applied to teen women, aged 15-19, as well.  Also, 60% of all rapes reported to rape crisis centers are committed by acquaintances, and the majority of victims are aged 16-24.

Myth: Men are battered by women just as often as women are battered by men.
Fact: The US Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that 95% of the reported incidents of assaults in relationships are committed by males.

Myth: Alcohol causes men to batter.
Fact: Many men who batter do not drink heavily, and many alcoholics do not beat their partners.  Further, batterers who do drink don't necessarily give up battering when they give up drinking.  While some abusers do beat their partners while they are drunk, the alcohol acts as their excuse not the cause.

Myth: Victims bring on the abuse themselves.  They ask for it.
Fact: Perpetrators believe they have the right to use abuse to control their partner, and they see the victim as less than equal to themselves.  The victim has no control over the abuser.

Myth: If a person stays in an abusive relationship, it must not really be that bad.
Fact: People stay in abusive relationships for a number of reasons: fear, economic dependence, confusion, loss of self-confidence, not recognizing that what´s happening is abusive, belief that the abuser needs their help or will change.

Myth: Most batterers are bums or crazy people.
Fact: Batterers are found in all classes and types of people: rich, poor, professional, unemployed, black, white, urban and rural.

24 Hour Crisis Hotline: 1-800-852-3388