Mission Beautiful Australia {MBA} Magazine MBA Issue 1 March. 2014 | Page 88

Alana Hart: Make over model,
Hair & Make-up Artist; Cass Gork
from CassRose Make-Up Artist www.
facebook.com/CassRoseMakeupArtist
Photographer; AmyLee from AmyLee
Photography www.amylee.com.au

HOW TO TEACH
YOUR CHILDREN
ABOUT DV

For some, it’s because they
don’t think it could happen to
their daughter.  But research
shows that it’s irresponsible
to think that any young woman
is immune to partner abuse. 
In fact, while statistics vary,
estimates indicate that as many
as half of women will be victims
of domestic violence at some
point. 
Other parents avoid the subject
because they feel they simply
don’t have enough knowledge
to know how to address the
situation.  So let’s talk about
some ways you can arm your
daughter against an abusive
romantic relationship.

Teach her that she’s a strong,
competent individual.

Build your daughter’s sense of selfworth and confidence.  You can do
this in many different ways:  give her
opportunities to tackle challenges, to
be good at something, and to solve
problems without being rescued by
you too quickly.  Find ways to foster
her belief in herself and her abilities,
and in what she can accomplish.  
When you do this, you will empower
her.  Girls are still often socialized to
“make nice.” They’re supposed to get
along, and to avoid ruffling feathers. 
Teach your daughter that she has a
powerful “NO!” and that she doesn’t

have to put up with anything that isn’t
respectful and loving from anyone. 
Focus less on convincing her not
to hurt other people’s feelings,
and more on teaching her to both
give and demand respect in all her
relationships.

Teach her how to set
standards and choose a
great partner.

You talk to your daughter about
setting goals and having standards
for the kinds of friends she has, for
the grades she wants to get, for the
college she’ll choose.  Teach her
that she can set the bar for what
kind of partner she chooses as well. 
Even before she begins to date,
you should talk to her about setting
standards for any relationship
she’s involved in.  As she grows,
you can even share with her a little
bit about your own standards you
had (or didn’t have) and where it
got you.  One of the best things to
teach is how to evaluate a potential
partner.  Have her watch the way
someone treats others, and help
her understand that this is a good
indication of how she’ll be treated
down the road

MORE:
http://www.
justmommies.com/tweens-and-teens/
dating-talking-about-sex/domesticviolence-and-girls-what-should-youteach-your-dau#ixzz2uQewJF00

As parents, we hope our
children know this truth,
but we have to tell them. 
Often.  Check in with her
and know the people she’s
friends with.  Get to know
them, along with the people
she dates.  Make sure she
knows that there are other
adults besides you she can
talk to if she needs to. 
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Teach her that she can
always come to you
and tell you anything. 

88

ASS

But most of all, make sure
that there’s no doubt in her
mind that if she needs help,
you will
always be there for her.
Teach her to watch for red
flags.
Knowledge is power. 
Teach your daughter to
watch for these warning
signs of domestic violence:
see page 50 for the top 30
Red Flags of a manipulative
Partner

MANY PARENTS
NEVER TALK TO
THEIR DAUGHTERS
ABOUT DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AND
PARTNER ABUSE. 
WHY NOT?

MARCH 2014

89