Before You Hook Up: Dating Rights and Responsibilities

Awards

Bronze Telly Award

Reviews

A number of teens describe their rights and expectations in healthy relationships, including respect, honesty, trust, support, acceptance, fairness and equality, communication, and safety. Additional information is provided by relationship expert Barbara Ball, Ph.D., of Safeplace in Austin, TX. Within the context of these rights/expectations, issues that affect teens in relationships are explored, such as peer pressure, respect of individual goals, help in making good decisions, compromise, and negotiation. Helpful and harmful forms of communication are also discussed. Finally, in terms of relationship safety, a dating rights advocate shares her experience with relationship abuse as a teen. Warning signs of abusive relationships are explained and tips for seeking help are provided. The teens profiled and those describing relationship qualities are well-spoken but not overly scripted as they describe both positive and negative aspects of a relationship. The 24-page teacher’s guide lists National Health Education Standards addressed and includes student activities, fact sheets, a list of pertinent websites. A non-judgmental, non-preachy approach to the topic.

–Ann Brownson, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston
School Library Journal

“If you are respected, you feel valued,” one interviewee notes in this brief but informative program that explores the ins and outs of healthy dating relationships. Comprised mainly of commentary by real teens combined with expert opinions, Before You Hook Up offers solid guidance about what constitutes a good relationship, including respecting boundaries, being treated as equals, accepting people for who they are, and finding a balance by sometimes agreeing to disagree. Noting that trust doesn’t happen overnight, the program counsels viewers to be honest about feelings and needs, and to support each other’s individuality and goals, which will help build a strong bond. The program also looks at the negative aspects of bad relationships, including control issues, manipulation, and the unhealthiness of fantasies like Romeo and Juliet ( a role-play vignette notes that Romeo likely didn’t know Juliet’s favorite color, or anything other than that she was cute). Also offering advice on how to recognize warning signs (a “Brittny’s Story” segment details an abusive situation), and get help, this is highly recommended.

J. Williams-Wood
Video Librarian

Highly Recommended   The DVD’s considered for this review, all youth related programs that spotlight and confront issues that teenagers tackle on a daily basis, includes

• Confronting Sexual Harassment in School: What Every Student Needs to Know
• Understanding and Preventing Sexual Violence
• Dealing with Teen Dating Abuse: Crossing the Line
• Before you Hook Up: Dating Rights and Responsibilities
• How to Say No and Really Mean It

Each video educates students on how to prevent unhealthy interactions with others by understanding the issues at hand, along with having the power and skills to set boundaries and “just say no.” Video reenactments of teenagers coping with different sensitive situations add to the eye-opening explanations of topics concerning gender stereotypes, media safety, teen violence, sexual harassment, and peer pressure.

Consideration and careful reflection is given in revealing the stories of victims who have battled emotional anguish and misfortune from schoolmates. Narratives pertaining to teens who have struggled to get through these various life changing events are very moving. Each video smartly confronts teenage problems and gives real advice and hope on how to change the outcomes and build peer interactions that are healthy and respectful. Exceptional acting/role playing help to make each video credible and viewers will relate to the teens being portrayed as they are very recognizable and could be part of their own family.
These DVDs come with a Teacher’s Resource materials that make learning objectives clear and help to promote classroom discussions. Student activities are included in the materials which makes each DVD thought-provoking and comprehensive while allowing students the opportunity to reflect on their own peer relationships. These titles are highly recommended and should be purchased for programs and schools interested in promoting an equal and just environment for students at every level.

—Hope Marie Cook, Curriculum Center Librarian, Eastern Connecticut State University
Educational Media Reviews Online (EMRO)