Are you out in the dating world? Staff from MOSAIC’s Violence Prevention Programs have compiled some information and tips to help you throughout the process.
- Always tell someone else about the date, when it is and where you are going to. Check in with the person before and after, or even during the date.
- Trust your instincts. If you do not feel safe, leave immediately.
- Especially in the first few dates, meet in a public place that you know well and find your own transportation.
- Carry a cell phone and the important/emergency numbers at all times.
- Carry some cash and change for taxi or public transportation if the date is cut short.
- Know the nearest location to get help in the community (e.g., police station).
- Do not give out personal, identifying information, especially in the beginning.
Love shouldn’t hurt. Trust your intuition! If you believe there may be a problem in your relationship, you are probably right. Do not ignore the warning signs. Research has found that those who have a tendency to engage in relationship violence escalate their abuse over time. In other words, it gets worse over time, not better.
You should never feel pressured to consent for any activity. Healthy relationships involve respectful and constant communication and safe and healthy boundaries. Nothing hurts more than having our trust violated by someone we love.
More resources:
10 Dating Safety Rules that Could Save Your Life
Early Warning Signs of Teen Dating Violence (PDF)
Love Shouldn’t Hurt: 5 Things You Might Not Know About Consent
MOSAIC offers free, confidential counselling support and multicultural outreach services for women who have experienced, or are at risk of, abuse, threats, or violence in an intimate relationship, sexual assault or childhood abuse. To learn more, please visit mosaicbc.org/stv.
