Before You Hook Up: Dating Rights and Responsibilities

Gr 7 Up—A number of teens describe their rights and expectations in healthy relationships, including respect, honesty, trust, support, acceptance, fairness and equality, communication, and safety. Additional information is provided by relationship expert Barbara Ball, Ph.D., of Safeplace in Austin, TX. Within the context of these rights/expectations, issues that affect teens in relationships are explored, such as peer pressure, respect of individual goals, help in making good decisions, compromise, and negotiation. Helpful and harmful forms of communication are also discussed. Finally, in terms of relationship safety, a dating rights advocate shares her experience with relationship abuse as a teen. Warning signs of abusive relationships are explained and tips for seeking help are provided. The teens profiled and those describing relationship qualities are well-spoken but not overly scripted as they describe both positive and negative aspects of a relationship. The 24-page teacher's guide lists National Health Education Standards addressed and includes student activities, fact sheets, a list of pertinent websites. A non-judgmental, non-preachy approach to the topic.—Ann Brownson, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston