One In Five Teens Is A Victim Of Dating Abuse; Yet 81% Of Parents Don't Acknowledge Teen Dating Violence As An Issue

New Handbook From Liz Claiborne Inc. Helps Parents and Teens Talk About Dating Violence

NEW YORK, NY - (August 8, 2001) - Too often, parents find themselves "generationally disadvantaged" when trying to connect with their children about serious issues, especially dating violence. Now, a new booklet, "A Parent's Guide to Teen Dating Violence: 10 Questions to Start the Conversation," provides parents and guardians of teens with language, conversation starters and facts to help them close the gap and open channels of communication. It is the latest in a series of educational handbooks offered by Liz Claiborne Inc. as part of the company's ten-year anti-abuse program.

According to Rosalind Wiseman, co-founder of the Empower Program, a Washington, D.C.-based education organization that works with teens to prevent gender-based violence, it's critical for parents to take the time to talk to their teenagers about dating violence. "There is no substitute for parent-child interaction, particularly when it comes to an issue as important and sensitive as dating violence," said Wiseman. "Despite what they might think, parents can continue to have a strong positive influence over their kids well into the teen years."

How Much Do Parents Know About the Prevalence of Teen Dating Violence?

A recent study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reported that one in five high school girls has been abused by a dating partner. However, parents are grossly unaware of the prevalence of dating violence. A study commissioned by the Empower Program and sponsored by Liz Claiborne Inc. found that 81 percent of parents don't acknowledge teen dating violence as an issue. The majority (54 percent) share that they have not spoken to their child about dating violence, and only eight percent of parents know of any students at their child's school who have been physically struck by someone they were dating.

While nearly three-fourths of parents (72 percent) believe their child would turn to them if confronted with an abusive dating partner, only half of the teens say they would talk to a parent, and a mere 36 percent have actually had discussions with their parents about dating violence. In fact, more than three-quarters (78 percent) would talk to a peer, 20 percent would turn to their guidance counselor or school administrator, and 16 percent would speak with a teacher.

"Parents may not be talking to their teens about dating violence because they aren't aware of or don't acknowledge their teen is even dating," said Jane Randel, vice president of corporate communications at Liz Claiborne. "In fact, 89 percent of teens ages 13-18 say they have been in dating relationships so a discussion of dating violence is warranted. By giving parents some guidance and resources to begin a meaningful conversation, we think we can help make a difference on the issue."

Parents Want More Information

The Empower Program/Liz Claiborne Inc. survey revealed that of those parents who have not spoken to their teen about dating violence, nearly two-thirds would do so if they had more information about how to address the issue. To help these parents, Liz Claiborne Inc. is launching a dating violence awareness and education handbook specifically targeted to parents of teens. The new handbook will provide parents and guardians with the tools they need to communicate better with their children, and will be available in October on www.lizclaiborne.com/loveisnotabuse and by calling 1-800-449-STOP (7867).

Titled "A Parent's Guide to Teen Dating Violence: 10 Questions to Start the Conversation," the handbook was developed with the advice of parenting and teen experts, including Dominic Cappello, author of "Ten Talks Parents Must Have With Their Children About Violence," Rosalind Wiseman and Jackson Katz, founder of MVP Strategies, an organization that provides gender-based prevention training and materials to schools, the military and businesses. Also developed with the support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the information was reviewed by the Family Violence Prevention Fund, a San Francisco-based, national non-profit organization focusing on domestic violence prevention, education and public policy reform and Liz Claiborne's long-time national philanthropic partner.

The guide is the fourth in an educational series from Liz Claiborne Inc.'s award-winning national campaign designed to encourage people to speak out against relationship abuse. Inside the Handbook

Included in the handbook are the latest statistics on dating violence and its prevalence among teens today, a clear definition of relationship abuse, as well as "nuts and bolts tips" on how to get a conversation started. Actual quotes from both parents and teens are interspersed throughout the copy.

Resources for additional information and support are also provided, including Web site addresses and phone numbers for national domestic violence prevention organizations. Working to Create a Society Intolerant of Abuse

Since 1991, Liz Claiborne Inc. has been addressing the issue of domestic violence through its Women's Work® program. The program's awareness and education campaign has included billboards, TV and radio public service announcements, posters, brochures, campus workshops and partnerships with local retailers and community groups. Each year the program strives to reach different audiences with targeted anti-abuse messages. Last year's campaign targeted teens and raised awareness of teen dating violence; previous campaigns have focused on women, men, college students and corporate America.

This year, in addition to the new handbook for parents, Liz Claiborne is introducing two new, limited-edition fundraising items, both of which promote the campaign's message "love is not abuse:" a sterling silver necklace ($14) and a cotton T-shirt ($12) featuring this year's campaign logo. Profits from the sale of these items, which will be available by calling 1-800-449-STOP (7867) beginning in October, will be donated to the Family Violence Prevention Fund.

These products will also be sold in all Liz Claiborne and Elisabeth stores nationwide throughout October with profits going to local domestic violence charity partners. On October 18, 2001, all Liz Claiborne and Elisabeth stores will host the company's eighth annual Charity Shopping Day and will donate 10 percent of the total day's sales to the same local charity partners.

Please visit the company's Web site at www.lizclaiborne.com/loveisnotabuse for more information about current or previous program initiatives. Survey Methodology

The Empower Program/Liz Claiborne Inc. national survey of 477 teens ages 14-17 and 456 parents of teens with at least one child in the same age group was conducted using the Knowledge Networks Web-enabled panel. The interviews took place from December 4 to 14, 2000. The samples were derived from a random digit dial (RDD) telephone methodology that represents all US households with a telephone.

The margin of sampling error is approximately plus or minus 4.9 percentage points for the teen survey and plus or minus 5.0 percentage points for the parent survey at the 95% level of confidence for the full samples. Sampling error is only one form of potential error in public opinion surveys.