See It and Stop It
The Teen Action Campaign, See It and Stop It, is an unprecedented multi-media public education campaign by and for teens. It offers posters, radio and television public service announcements, an online toolkit, and valuable information on how to recognize the warning signs of dating violence, how to stop it, and how to make a difference in your school and community. See It and Stop It was developed by teens in Massachusetts, with support from the Family Violence Prevention Fund and The Advertising Council.
According to the Teen Action Campaign, one in five female high school students report having been physically and/or sexually abused by a boyfriend. In addition, 40% of girls ages 14 to 17 report knowing someone their age that has been hit or beaten by a boyfriend. While most teens are clear about the black and white issues of relationship abuse, many are less clear about the gray areas of behavior that indicate warning signs, such as harassment or emotional abuse. Though most teens say they would get involved if they saw obvious physical or sexual abuse, they are less comfortable intervening when the abuse is less overt. Their instinct tells them it is wrong, but they do not have the tools or resources they need to intervene.
The new campaign targets teens between the ages of 13 and 18 and is designed to encourage and empower them to recognize and reject unhealthy, potentially abusive relationships in their own lives and the lives of their peers. Ultimately, the objective of the PSAs is to interrupt the cycle of violence and prevent future incidents of domestic and/or sexual violence in this generation. The campaign, entitled Teen Dating Violence, provides teens with the tools and resources necessary to "see it and stop it."
