Introduction

Similar to Dubey (2021), Jana's Campaign believes gender and relationship violence is a serious, preventable public health issue. This chapter focuses specifically on gender and relationship violence in adolescents, commonly called teen dating violence (TDV). In 2008, Mulford and Giordano wrote that TDV had only recently been recognised as a significant public health problem. Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identify TDV as a public health problem that most commonly occurs in the form of physical, psychological or sexual abuse (CDC, 2021). Violence in relationships has been, and continues to be, a weapon utilised to enforce power and control. The tactics utilised to establish and maintain power and control over one's partner typically do not vary depending on age.

TDV is an adverse childhood experience (ACE) that affects millions of young people in the United States. ACEs are potentially traumatic events that occur during childhood (0– 17 years). Some studies indicate exposure to ACEs, such as witnessing violence at home between parents or witnessing neighbourhood violence, can be associated with an increased risk of teens personally engaging in dating violence (Vagi et al, 2013). This characterisation of ACE exposure across both family and community violence in middle-school-aged youth is particularly important given that adolescents spend large amounts of time both within and outside of the family context (Davis et al, 2019). These experiences can have an impact on future violence victimisation and perpetration, and lifelong negative health and limited opportunity. Moreover, ACEs and their associated harms are preventable (CDC, 2021).

While it is widely understood that the issue of gender and relationship violence on college campuses has become a national crisis, less is known about a similar crisis in secondary schools. It is imperative to help schools, communities and states understand the importance of providing prevention education to secondary school students. To understand this significance, one must first understand the negative impact that TDV has on young people, both in the short and long-term. From ACEs to a general lack of acceptance for how individuals identify, students are facing many challenges that will negatively impact their health and success in the future if violence prevention and intervention measures are not in place.