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Johnson: Rihanna, Brown can change dating culture
The alleged physical attack of singer Rihanna by her boyfriend, R&B star Chris Brown, has resulted in much national discussion recently about teen dating violence.
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Brown's alleged beating of Rihanna, in which a Los Angeles County affidavit reports he shoved her head against the passenger window of his car, punched her in the face several times, bit her ear and put her in a headlock, stunned his young fan base. He is charged with two felonies - assault likely to cause bodily harm and making criminal threats. If convicted, he could get probation or be sentenced up to four years in state prison.
Known as "Chris Breezy" in the pop culture world, Brown, who is only 19, appeared to be as clean-cut as a teen heartthrob could get. Many parents also approved of him because he does not spew misogynist lyrics like many of his rap counterparts.
Many who speak out against domestic violence are using the Rihanna/Brown incident as a teachable moment for teens and young adults. Robin Givens, ex-wife of former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, recently appeared on "Larry King Live" discussing her tumultuous marriage. Sandy Denton, of the famed rap group Salt-n-Pepa, is lecturing across the country about the abuse she encountered in numerous relationships. Experts are emphasizing warning signs of abuse in teen dating such as unexplained injuries and making excuses for a partner's violent behavior.
According to loveisrespect.org, a national Web site on teenage dating violence, one in five teenagers across the nation said they had been hit or pushed by a partner in a serious relationship. Teen abusers also exhibit excessive jealousy and stalk their partners in person or online.
As more details from the Rihanna/Brown story became available, I asked some of my students what they thought about this former fairy-tale romance. Surprisingly, many of them were not fans of either singer, but their responses attested to what the statistics show. Two of my female students talked about abuse they had experienced in relationships, stressing how at first they thought the jealousy of their boyfriends was "cute" and believed that such aggression was a display of affection. They expressed the difficulty they had in leaving such relationships even after enduring multiple assaults.
They also mentioned a disturbing trend discussed in news reports on teen dating violence, which is that girls tend to blame the victims as being responsible for attacks. This was evident from the blog chatter about Brown among teens, as many online conversations between girls suggested Rihanna provoked him. With teenage girls justifying the beating Rihanna allegedly received, it is understandable why older women in abusive relationships often place the onus on themselves.
To his credit, Brown is seeking counseling from his pastor and is partnering with clinical experts to talk openly about his abusive behavior. He has much to prove, but hopefully he is sincere in his efforts to reform. Brown and Rihanna now have an opportunity that is more significant than their next hit single. They can help change the violent dating culture that so many of their fans consider to be the norm.
• Jessica Johnson, a 1987 graduate of Clarke Central High School, is a correspondent for the Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch and an adjunct professor at Columbus State Community College.
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