Young women experience significant levels of family violence. In a survey of 5000 12-20 year olds undertaken by the University of Western Australia’s Crime Unit in 2004, ‘42% of 19- to 20- year-old women admitted experiencing some form of physical violence from a boyfriend at least once (30% identified feelings of fear as a result of the assault). Considering the rates of under-reporting of family violence, this figure is significant.

Young women with children experience enormous pressure to maintain the family unit for the sake of the children. This is similar to the experiences of women of all ages. However, for young women it is compounded by the social stigma of being a young single parent and can result in young women staying in the relationship.

A young woman’s stage in development and the often interrelated nature of young women’s friendship networks provides a complex context for young women’s experiences. Friends can often display significant investment in the relationship and young women face the risk of losing their social network if they choose to end or alter the relationship.

In a number of cases, young women become homeless due to their experience of child abuse including exposure to family violence in their family of origin, and subsequently find themselves entrapped in similar circumstances and with a succession of partners which leads to a lack of confidence. Young women who lack self worth and confidence can get caught up in an ever increasing cycle of violence and abuse. This may lead to living on the streets and often to problematic use of drugs and/or alcohol which, coupled with being young, greatly affect their (and their children’s) development.

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