Romantic Relationships, Dating Violence, and Sexism During Adolescence: A Cross-Cultural Case Study of Poland and the United States

Adolescents’ romantic relationships are impacted by various contexts, including family and broader cultural contexts. Cultural context influences people’s views and expressions around gender, power, and violence in romantic relationships. In this chapter, we synthesize current research on the interplay of family life, culture, and adolescents’ romantic relationships. Special attention is given to dating violence and factors that promote dating violence, including notions around sexism and violence. This chapter also highlights a culture comparative study that examines adolescents’ perceptions around sexism and dating violence in rural and urban communities in Poland and the United States. Findings shed light on differences in perceptions toward sexism and dating violence across gender, country, and community context. This chapter concludes with implications for relationship education efforts in Poland and the United States that engage adolescents, their families, and communities in knowledge and skill development.