The Women?s Resource Centre has been visiting schools to educate students about various types of abuse; one issue they have seen an alarmingly high rate of is young teens dating men in their mid to late twenties. One of the counsellors, Elizabeth Garrity, said many of the young women freely discuss their relationships with older men. ?I believe that is of some concern to some of the counsellors,? Ms Garrity said.

?I doubt they (the students) recognise that this is a problem. They don?t see the danger and see themselves as being lucky to have an older boyfriend.?

?We point out that having a sexual relationship with minor is illegal and that the relationships could involve controlling behaviour. An older person dating a younger person is putting them in an inferior position, it is not an equal partnership.?

She explained that some young women can see controlling behaviour, such as wanting to know their whereabouts at all times, as a sign of love. Another sign are large, expensive gifts.

?We ask the young women to think when they receive a big gift ?what favour is being asked in return for this??,? she said. Other warning signs are boyfriends that dictate who the girl should and should not hang out with, how a male speaks about former girlfriends or other women and any sort of physical contact, such as pushing or shoving.

?When it comes to the physical things we tell them to be wary of anything, even if it seems minor and especially if there is a pattern of it,? she said. ?It?s a big issue if pushing and shoving are a part of someone?s character.?

The programme has been set up as a preventative measure to stop young women from entering into a cycle of abuse. ?We have a curriculum and work with the guidance counsellors at schools,? Executive Director Penny Dill said. ?We go to small groups and discuss issues they are dealing with such as dating violence.?

The community education programme aims to ensure that teens know what constitutes abuse and where they can go to get help. They discuss the warning signs and repercussions of physical, sexual and emotion abuse.

?We tell them to look out for signs and ways to recognise an unhealthy relationships,? Ms Dill said. ?Basically we are hoping to teach them so that they don?t get locked into an unhealthy relationship. We also look at female behaviour and how it can add to them being in an abusive relationship,? Ms Garrity said. ?For example we explain to girls that they should not slap boys, even playfully, because if the boy slaps them back and it?s a harder slap it enters into a grey area.?

Recently Ms Garrity and the other counsellor, Cherise Carey, brought groups of young women to the Women?s Resource Centre, located at 58 Reid Street, so that they know where to go if they need help. ?We understand that not every ones? parents are going to react positively or be helpful so we tell them go to a guidance counsellor, trusted adult or come to us if they need help,? Ms Garrity said.