As a healthy relationship advocate and educator one of my most important goals to to teach others what it means to be in a healthy relationship. For so many, this has never been modeled before and can have devasting affects on us, our children and the community in which we live.
Here are the Healthy vs. Unhealthy Characterstics in a a relationship. Now the big question....on which side do you fall?
Healthy Relationships
Equality - Partners share decisions and responsibilities. They discuss roles to make sure they're fair and equal.
Honesty - Partners share their dreams, fears and concerns with each other. They tell each other how they feel and share important information.
Physical safety - Partners feel physically safe in the relationship and respect each other's space.
Respect - Partners treat each other like they want to be treated and accept each other's opinions, friends, and interests. They listen to each other.
Comfort - Partners feel safe with each other and respect each other's differences. They realize when they're wrong and are not afraid to say, "I'm sorry." Partners can "be themselves" with each other.
Sexual respectfulness - Partners never force sexual activity or insist on doing something the other isn't comfortable with.
Independence - Neither partner is dependent upon the other for an identity. Partners maintain friendships outside of the relationship. Either partner has the right to end the relationship.
Humor - The relationship is enjoyable for both partners. Partners laugh and have fun.
Unhealthy Relationships
Control - One partner makes all the decisions and tells the other what to do, or tells the other person what to wear or who to spend time with.
Dishonesty - One partner lies to or keeps information from the other. One partner steals from the other.
Physical abuse - One partner uses force to get his/her way (for example, hitting, slapping, grabbing, shoving).
Disrespect - One partner makes fun of the opinions and interests of the other partner. He or she may destroy something that belongs to the other partner.
Intimidation - One partner tries to control every aspect of the other's life. One partner may attempt to keep his or her partner from friends and family or threaten violence or a break-up.
Sexual abuse - One partner pressures or forces the other into sexual activity against his/her will or without his/her consent.
Dependence - One partner feels that he/she "can't live without" the other. He/she may threaten to do something drastic if the relationship ends.
Hostility - One partner may "walk on egg shells" to avoid upsetting the other. Teasing is mean-spirited.
The information in the above table has been adapted from the Liz Claiborne-sponsored web site http://www.loveisnotabuse.com, Youth Resource http://www.youthresource.com/our_lives/healthy_relationships, and the Center for Young Women’s Health at http://www.youngwomenshealth.org/healthy_relat.html.