Students should be made aware of what a healthy relationship looks like and given advice on what to do if they aren’t happy with some aspects of their relationship.
See the guide to talk students through below on what makes a good relationship:
- Respectful – partners respect each other’s boundaries and don’t try to push them. They also respect each other’s privacy and decisions.
- Caring – partners care about each others feelings and empathise when someone is struggling.
- Considerate – partners are considerate of each other’s feelings and circumstances.
- Trust – partners should trust each other. Any worries should be talked through.
- Space – a healthy relationship also involves space from each other. Too much time or too little time together can be damaging.
What unhealthy looks like….
- Controlling – partners should not control each other.
- Violent – this is never anything someone in a relationship should have to face. Violence is no way to settle and argument or issue. If your partner is physically violent towards you, call 999.
- Invasion of privacy – Partners should not go through each other’s phones or personal belongings without prior permission. Stalking is a massive invasion of privacy. Healthy relationships involve respect and trust.
- Jealous – partners should not try to make each other jealous nor justify abuse through jealous. If there are worries, partners should talk it through honestly.
- Manipulative – no partner should manipulate or force their partner to do something against their best interests.
Young adults should be told where they can get more information or help. If their partner is showing signs of unhealthy behaviour towards them and they need someone to talk to, tell them to get in touch with their school’s wellbeing officer or find help online at https://www.loveisrespect.org/ They have a 24/7 helpline and advice on relationships for young adults.
Generation Feminist 