Male Teenagers: My Girlfriends Is Not My Pet
Oleh : Ratnasari Nugraheni
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Thursday (29/5), Rifka Annisa conducted a regular discussion in Mertelu Hall at 09.30 (GMT+7). Ani Rufaida (Rufed), the community organizer of Gunung Kidul, became a facilitator in a discussion with theme “Men and Violence against Women”. The participants were 13 male teenagers from Mertelu Village.

To start the discussion, Rufed asked the participants to introduce themselves and mention their lovely pets. Then, she also asked them how they treated their pets and girlfriends. It aimed to discern their perspectives on differentiating between their pets and girlfriends.

“Your pets and girlfriends are not the same”, said Rufed. She explained that they should not treat their girlfriends as pets. Their girlfriends are human so that they have rights as human, freedom and life. “Limiting your girlfriend to have some friends and social life means that you committed violence against women. You did violence dating in the form of social violence”, explained Rufed.

Despite social violence, violence dating includes economical violence, physical violence, psychological violence, and sexual violence. Violence dating will not give some positive impact in a relationship. As the solution, assertive communication will build a good relationship. Therefore, violence dating should be avoided.