Ministry of Health, Social Policy and Equality Office

HOOKED ON YOU

MINISTRY OF HEALTH, SOCIAL POLICY AND EQUALITY OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EQUALITY Office of the Government Delegate for Gender-based Violence 1 General catalogue of official publications: http://www.060.es

Published by:

Ministry of Health, Social Policy and Equality. Office of the Secretary of State for Equality. Office of the Government Delegate for Gender-based Violence.

Paseo del Prado 18. 28014 - Madrid Email: [email protected] Website: www.mspsi.es

Coordinated by:

Pilar Gómez Muñoz Official advisor

Miguel Lorente Acosta Government Delegate for Gender-based Violence

Authors:

Design and layout: LaGRUAestudio.

The authors benefitted from the advice of Carmen Castro (SinGénerodeDudas) andthe supervision of the Government Delegate for Gender-based Violence when producing this comic-strip.

Official publication identification number (NIPO): 860-11-179-8

2 OLIVIAHOOKED AND MARTIN'S ON YOU STORY CRISTINA DURÁN / MIGUEL A. GINER BOU

MINISTRY OF HEALTH, SOCIAL POLICY AND EQUALITY OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EQUALITY Office of the Government Delegate for Gender-based Violence

3 HOOKED ON YOU

FOREWORD

It might seem made up, a cautionary tale rather than a true story, or something surreal and far off, as if real life had nothing to do with the pictures in the comic-strip or the characters with people we see every day on the metro or bus. But I can assure you that Olivia and Martin’s story is real and the characters in it aren’t from another planet or a figment of someone’s imagination. The main characters could be any of those girls or boys you see each day around school or down at the local shopping centre. People you know, girls who fall for boys who seem lovely at first, but who then start thinking they own the girl, that she belongs to him…and they stop being lovely and turn violent.

A survey conducted by the Ministry of Equality on teenage girls and boys across Spain shows that roughly 1 in every 10 girls says they have experienced an abusive situation at the hands of the boy they are going out with. A little more, 1.3 in every 10 teenage boys, admit to behaving aggressively towards their girlfriends. So you see, it’s not all that uncommon and it is closer than you think. Maybe you think I’m exaggerating and you wonder what these guys have done for us to think they have been abusive. I’ll tell you: these guys themselves admit to, for example, hitting their girlfriends, making them feel afraid, insulting them or making them look a fool, or they have made them feel that they are worthless. They have also sent images of their girlfriends or messages with their mobile or over the internet to insult them or humiliate them...to name just a few of these things. As you can see, this isn’t just kids’ stuff. It is the complete opposite. These are genuine acts of aggression that form part of the violence suffered by women, even the very youngest.

This is why it is really important for you to be aware of this kind of violence and understand that it appears to be the most normal thing, as if it was just a part of being in a couple, or at least part of being with a particular partner, which means it is justified instead of rejected. What’s more, it is very widespread as you have seen: remember, nearly 10% of teenagers admit to experiencing it or inflicting it at some time! It can happen anywhere, forget about poverty, conflict, alcoholism and drug addic- tion...any teenage boy can inflict it if they decide to do so; it all depends on his will.

And if this is the case, have you ever wondered why so many teenage boys inflict it in all kinds of pla- ces? This is a good question. If the same kind of behaviour appears in highly different circumstances, it means there must be something in common to all of them, something that is nothing to do with whether the parents earn more or less money, whether the family have a higher or lower level of educa- tion, whether they live in one neighbourhood or another, ...if it was a result of certain circumstances, it

4 would be associated with them. Yet it’s not. Being violent to women crosses all barriers and situations to arise in any couple if that is what the aggressor wants. They all have the same cultural references. By culture I’m not talking about cultural expression in the form of art, literature, painting or music, etc. I mean values that our culture gives us to organize how we live in society and the functions and roles assigned to us as part of these cultural references so we grow up to be “real” men and women. These values say different things to girls and boys, allowing some boys to feel that they should control “their girl” as part of a commitment to the relationship so they don’t look bad and his friends don’t think he’s under the thumb or that she could cheat on him with his friends. And these values make girls believe that when “their guy” gets tough or tells them not to talk to other friends (whether girls or boys), or tells them to wear different clothes… he does it for love, because he’s jealous and jealousy means love.

And that’s completely true: he does do it for love, but love of himself, because he is selfish and thinks he owns her. These values make him think that he is the one who can set limits in such a way that the relationship adapts to what a culture built by men believes a relationship between a couple should be. This is how deception occurs, which leads to the most serious expressions of inequality; these include violence to and discrimination of women, the same as “it’s no time for a girl to be out” or “this place isn’t suitable for a woman”.

Where there is love, there cannot be violence. And everything that involves imposing, limiting or con- trolling a girl’s will is violence because it forces her to obey her boyfriend, and because it leads him to act in a more violent way by means of aggression to correct what he considers to be wrong or feeling that it is her behaviour that threatens his status as a man.

Putting up with this behaviour doesn’t mean you love him more or that he is more of a man by behaving like that. The human condition is based on respect for Human Rights. If you find yourselves in situations like those described in the comic-strip or you know that it is happening to someone you know, don’t hesitate, hesitation always traps the person suffering from the violence and reinforces the person being violent as the only thing it does is draw it out over time and prolong the circumstances surrounding it. Ask questions, raise the issue, call 016, ask for help and give it yourselves like Olivia’s friends do. We need to build a better society where there is no longer any violence. By taking action together, we can succeed.

Miguel Lorente Acosta Government Delegate for Gender-based Violence

5 6 HEY LOOK OLIVIA, A PUPPY! DO THINK IT’S DANGEROUS, CAROLINA?

JUST LOOK AT IT, IT’S SO SWEET.

YES IT IS...

HI DOGGY...

LARACROF! LARACROF!

7 THERE YOU ARE, YOU I’LL TEACH YOU TO STUPID ANIMAL! OBEY YOUR OWNER………...

HE... HE WAS PLAYING WITH US AND... AND...

I’LL TEACH YOU!

OLIVIA! OLIVIA, HELP ME!

LEAVE HER ALO- WHAT’S THIS? YOU WANT NE, YOU BULLY! SOME TOO, DO YA?

O…... OLIVIA… OOO... OLI... DO SOME- VIAAAA... THING...

8 OLIVIA. OLIVIA!

OH, SORRY, I WAS MILES AWAY…... YEAH, I NOTICED...

I WAS JUST THINKING…...DO YOU REMEMBER THAT GUY I TOLD YOU ABOUT?

MARTIN? THE ONE ON THE FOOTBALL TEAM?

YOU SHOULD SEE THE I’VE NEVER FELT THIS WAY WAY HE LOOKS AT ME….. I THINK HE FANCIES ME…... ABOUT ANYONE BEFORE…...

…... THE OTHER GUYS WERE JUST A BIT OF FUN.

DON’T TELL THEM THAT, HA HA…...

LOOK, HERE COME YOU GO GIRL! RAQUEL AND AHMED.

COURSE…... AND YOU KNOW SO MARTIN FANCIES CAROLINA, ! HIYA, CAN YOU LET ME HAVE I’LL HELP YOU IF YOU YOU THEN? **** THE NOTES FROM MATHS? WANT...…

OH, THAT’D BE GREAT…...

HA, HA... …I’M OFF, I’VE LISTEN, THE OTHER DAY I WAS IN THE YEAH, YEAH...WHERE YOU LIVED, GOT ART. CHANGING ROOMS AND I HEARD HIM WHICH CLASS YOU WERE IN, THAT TALKING ABOUT YOU…... YOU DID? KIND OF STUFF...

9 MARTÍN! YEAH? ISN’T THAT THE GIRL YOU FANCIED?

OH MY GOD! DID YOU SEE HOW OH MY GOD, I THINK I JUST WENT YEAH RIGHT, THAT’S WELL, SEE YOU CIAO. HE JUST LOOKED AT YOU? BRIGHT RED…I’M GONNA POUNCE ON HIM NOT EXACTLY YOUR TOMORROW. TALK ABOUT OBVIOUS! AT THE PARTY. STYLE…...

MUM, DAD, I’M WHO’S THAT I CAN SEE? HELLO LOVE, GIVE ME A IT’S MY LITTLE BUDDHA…... OLI... VIAA... HAND WITH YOUR HOME. BROTHER, I NEED TO START THE SUPPER. HI SWEETHEART.

O.. LI... VIAA...

SO, HOW ERRRR..…. WEEELLLL..…. HI MUM, I’LL GIVE ADRIAN WAS SCHOOL FINE, SAME JUST FINE? SO WHAT‘S THAT I THINK THERE’S A BOY HIS SUPPER…... TODAY? AS USUAL... TWINKLE IN YOUR EYE? WHO LIKES ME...

OLI... VIAA...

10 BITE THE DUST, YOU ****! THEY’VE KILLED ME AGAIN! ARE YOU STAYING FOR MINGING ZOMBIE! SUPPER, RICARDO?

NO, NO, I SAID I’D BE BACK FOR MARTIN, SUPPER SUPPER AND I DON’T WANT IS READY! PROBLEMS WITH THE OLD MAN.

WHATEVER... …BY THE WAY THAT OLIVIA? YEAH, I REALLY WELL, THEY’RE ALL I THINK I’M GONNA TRY FANCY HER. THE SAME REALLY…... AND PULL THAT GIRL FROM SHE’S A FOX... SCHOOL…...

I DUNNO... …I’LL TRY AND WHATEVER, BUT DON’T PULL HER AT THE PARTY SAY I DIDN’T TELL YOU SO: RICARDO’S NOT STAYING, I’VE LEFT A SANDWICH OUT FOR ON FRIDAY…... THEY’RE ALL A PAIN IN THE WHAT’S FOR SUPPER? YOU... I’VE ALREADY HAD MINE. NECK.

WHERE’S DAD? AS USUAL... HE’S BUSY AT THE OFFICE, HE’LL BE BACK LATE... YEAH, AS USUAL...

11 OH NO OLIVIA…I... VE JUST HEARD THE GUYS THEY’VE GOT TRAINING AND THEY’RE WELL…... IT DOESN’T ON THE FOOTBALL TEAM AREN’T COMING…... NOT COMING, SORRY…... MATTER... DON’T WORRY…... HOW COME?

Hi.. WILL I HAVE TO START EATING SPINACH? HIVA!

IT’S OLIVIA, ISN’T IT? AND YOU’RE MARTIN... HA HA, YOU’VE GOT THE SAME NAME AS POPEYE’S GIRLFRIEND. THAT’S GOOD IDEA... AND THE SAME ONE AS THE GIRL IN FRINGE…... ?

AM I ON TIME?

DEPENDS...

ON WHAT?

ON WHAT YOU WANTED TO BE ON TIME FOR…...

12 TWO MONTHS LATER. I CAN’T, I TOLD YOU … ... THEN CAROLINA TO HAVE A AND THEN I’VE GOT I’M MEETING AHMED…... LOOK AT SOME OF THE PAGES IN HER COMIC…... TO PICK ADRIAN UP. AHA. HI OLIVIA, HI MARTIN.

HI SIR.

BUT IF YOU LIKE I COULD COME TUT…... DOES YOUR WHY DON’T YOU COME TO EH... …NO, NO. I CAN’T JUST AND MEET YOU WHEN I’VE BROTHER HAVE TO TRAINING AND WAIT FOR ME? NOT MEET THEM. PICKED ADRIAN UP…... COME?

BUT MARTIN, HE LOVES WATCHING YOU WELL, SEE YA... PLAY…HE HAS SUCH A GREAT TIME.

SPEAK LATER...

HI AHMED, LET’S HAVE A LOOK AT THIS THEOREM…...

13 SO WE’VE GOT A TRIANGLE SO A DIVIDED BY SIN A EQUALS B DIVIDED WITH ANGLES ABC, RIGHT? BY SIN B, WHICH EQUALS…... OH, THERE ABC. GOES MY MOBILE AGAIN.

MISS U...

NOT AGAIN!

FOR GOD’S SAKE I CAN’T CONCEN- OLIVIA, THAT’S TRATE WITH HE’S JUST REALLY THE TENTH TEXT... THAT GOING ON. AFFECTIONATE…...

HE’S A PAIN IN THE NECK MORE LIKE...

YEAH, IT’S STOPPED WHAT? YOU WHAT ABOUT NO, NO IT’S NOT THAT…... WELL, ALRIGHT THEN…... I’LL LET RAINING…... MEAN RIGHT IT’S JUST I DON’T WANT NOW? CAROLINA AND... TO CHANGE PLANS AT THEM KNOW I’M NOT COMING…... AND... ADRIAN ? THE LAST MINUTE.

UHM, AHMED... TRAINING’S BEEN CALLED OFF AND…... ER... WELL, I’M LEAVING…...

TAP, TAP, TAP, TAP.

14 THAT WEEK... I CAN BRING THE HI GUYS, DRINKS…... WHAT’S UP?

HI OLI, WE’RE PLANNING TO GO TO THE BEACH THEN THE FANCY IT? COURSE! IT SOUNDS I’LL TELL MARTIN LATER... CINEMA ON SATURDAY. GREAT! WE’LL DEFINITELY COME!

WE’RE GOING TO THE HI BABE, WHAT KILLING ZOMBIES, BEACH THEN THE CINEMA ON SATURDAY? I’VE GOT A ARE YOU DOING? WANNA JOIN ME? ON SATURDAY... MATCH ON SATURDAY...

COURSE! AS IF YOU NEED TO ASK...

WELL, UHM…... I’LL GO, I REALLY WHAT? I THOUGHT WERE FEEL LIKE IT…... COMING TO SEE US PLAY...

... … IT’S A BIG MATCH.

ER...… IT’S JUST IT’S BEEN AGES SINCE I WENT OUT WITH THEM...

15 WHAT’S THE IT’S JUST, FOR GOD’S MATTER? AREN’T SAKE OLI, YOU MAKE I’VE ALREADY TOLD THE WE PLAYING EVERYTHING SO COMPLI- GUYS YOU’RE COMING…... ANYMORE? CATED…... I’D REALLY LIKE YOU TO BE THERE...

AND BY THE WAY... CAN YOU YOU’RE KIDDING, WELL, YOU COULD HAVE DO YOUR TOP UP A BIT? I RIGHT? ASKED ME FIRST. CAN SEE EVERYTHING...

COME ON OLI…... THEN ME AND YOU CAN GO TO THE CINEMA…...

BUT TO SEE ONE OF OUR FILMS, NOT THAT SOPPY STUFF COME ON, IT’S NO YOUR FRIENDS ARE BIG DEAL…... INTO...

OH. WHAT’S THE MATTER?

IT WAS OLIVIA... GUESS WHAT? WELL, IT’S NORMAL… THEY’VE GOT BET- SHE’S NOT COMING TER THINGS TO DO! OH PEDRITO, YOU’VE ON SATURDAY. GOT A ONE TRACK MIND. KNEW IT!

16 THIS ONE’S NICE, MUM. TH...THAT ONE?

YES, WHAT’S WRONG IT’S JUST AS YOU ALWAYS WEAR SHORT WITH IT? DON’T YOU YES, YES I LIKE IT… I’M JUST WHY DO YOU SAY SKIRTS, I’M NOT USED TO SEEING YOU LIKE IT? SURPRISED YOU DO. THAT? IT SUITS ME. WITH SUCH A LONG ONE…...

SKIIIIIIIIRT... OOO... LI... VIAA.

WELL MUM, I’M OLD ENOUGH TO WEAR WHATEVER I LIKE, WHY DON’T YOU STOP NO DARLING, AREN’T I? TREATING ME LIKE A CHILD? IT’S NOT THAT…...

AND STOP TALKING DOWN TO ME LIKE THAT...

...I CAN’T STAND IT.

IT’S MARTIN... HE’S WAI- WH...WHAT ABOUT TING FOR ME OUTSIDE... THE SKIRT?

I’M OFF.

I DON’T CARE! JUST LEAVE IT THERE! OLIVIAAA... CROOOOOSS…...

17 HERE, YOU CAN I’M GOING FOR A HAVE MY GO…... WEE.

BRING US UP SOME NICE YOU GET COLD CANS…... THEM, BABE... I’M GOING THE OTHER WAY...

WHAT!?

JUST YOU LISTEN IF I TELL YOU TO BRING US A DRINK, WHAT’S UP? CAN’T YOU EVEN DO THAT FOR US?! TO ME…...! YOU BRING IT AND THAT’S THAT! YES, IF I WAS GOING DOWNSTAIRS, BUT I’M NOT, SO YOU CAN DO IT...…

YOU’RE KIDDING, RIGHT?

DO US A FAVOUR AND JUST BRING THE ******* YEAH, A JOKE... CANS AND LET’S FORGET ABOUT THIS.

18 THE NEXT MORNING AT SCHOOL…...

LOTS OF PEOPLE ARE IN A SITUATION OF AND REMEMBER THAT YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO THERE’S ALSO THE RISK AND THEY DON‘T REALISE IT... REPORT IT, TO REQUEST A RESTRAINING ORDER AND 016(*) HELPLINE AT TO RECEIVE INFORMATION ON LEGAL PROCEDURES... YOUR DISPOSAL. I’LL LEAVE YOU A LEAFLET…...

016(*): Helpline providing legal advice and information on gender-based violence. OK, PLEASE THANK THE THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SPOKESWOMAN FROM THE VIO- I’M IN A HURRY... IT WAS A PLEASURE…... LENCE UNIT OF THE EQUALITY MINISTRY FOR HER TIME.

OLIVIA, CAN YOU HANG ON A MINUTE? IT WON’T TAKE A MOMENT...

I DON’T KNOW WHETHER DID YOU LIKE THE TALK? YOU KNEW I COACHED HIM FOR A FEW YEARS, HOW’S IT GOING WITH HIM? IT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE... THAT’S NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU…... I SEE YOU’RE GOING OUT WITH MARTIN COME ON OLIVIA, DON’T FROM THE FOOTBALL TRY AND ACT TOUGH, TEAM…... IT’S NOT YOUR STYLE…... YEAH...SO WHAT?

WHAT IS MY STYLE IS FOR PEOPLE TO LEAVE ME ALONE…... JUST TAKE THE LEAFLET AND HAVE A LOOK AT IT, PLEASE...

WHATEVER YOU SAY...… AND IF YOU’VE FI- NISHED HAVING A GO AT ME, I’M GOING...

19 DO YOU LIKE CAROL? YOU HAVEN’T IT? CALLED ME THAT FOR AGES...… SINCE WE WERE LITTLE...…

DO YOU REMEMBER THAT PUPPY?

LARACROF! CAROL, THIS IS AMAZING... HOW COULD I FORGET?

GOD... WE WERE SO YEAH, DO YOU REMEMBER IT’S JUST THAT..… SCARED. I SAID YOU WERE LIKE A UHM…... YOU’RE A BLOCK OF WOOD? BIT LIKE THAT NOW, OLIVIA…...

YOU’RE PUSHING US AWAY, YOUR AHA... FRIENDS...

¡***** CAROLINA! NOT YOU I’M WORRIED AS WELL! ABOUT YOU...

WELL YOU CAN STOP WORRYING BECAUSE I’M A BIG GIRL NOW...

BUT OLIVIA...

LOOK, WHAT WE’VE GOT IS YOU LOT DON’T UNDERSTAND SOMETHING REALLY SPECIAL…... HOW WE FEEL.

ESPECIALLY YOU…... YOU’D NEVER GET A GUY LIKE THAT... WHAT’S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN? PFFF...

DO I REALLY NEED TO SPELL IT OUT?

20 ... …AND WE THRASHED THEM…...

HA, HA, OH MY GOD!

HI BABE, WHAT’S UP? IT’S BECAUSE OF ME, ISN’T IT? BECAUSE OF THE DRINK YOU LOOK A BIT DOWN... THING THE OTHER DAY…...

IT’S NOTHING...

YOU’RE RIGHT, I WAS OUT OF I’VE BEEN THINKING NO, SILLY... ORDER…... ABOUT IT ALL DAY...

YOU KNOW I’M HOOKED ON YOU...

... HOPING TO BUMP INTO SO GO AHEAD, PUNISH ME, YELL YOU TO SAY SORRY... AT ME, TELL ME TO GET LOST, WHATEVER YOU WANT…...

21 THAT WEEKEND OUTSIDE THE LOCAL BAR... OLIVIA? FANCY COMING HIYA. HI CAROLINA, FOR A DRINK? WE’RE HOW’S IT GOING? ALL HERE... HEY, ISN’T THAT MARTIN? AH, OK...

... …AND THE WHOLE TEAM… WASN’T HE SUPPO- SED TO BE PLAYING AWAY ALL WEEKEND?

YEAH, THAT’S WHAT OLIVIA SAID... I’M GONNA RING HER.

22 UHM…... SHE’S NOT COMING...… AND, JUST LISTEN TO SHE’S EXPECTING MARTIN TO RING SHE’S GOT TO LOOK AFTER HER THIS BIT…... AFTER THE MATCH! BROTHER AND SHE’S STAYING IN TO REVISE…...

HEY, THEY’RE LEAVING, THE FOOTBALL GUYS ARE LEAVING…...

LET’S FOLLOW THEM TO UHM…... BETTER NOT, ... ANYWAY WE’VE GOT TO REVISION FIND OUT WHAT THEY DO, CAROLINA. WE DON’T WANT TO DO…... OK GUYS? ANY TROUBLE…...

WELL, I’M GONNA FOLLOW THEM... HMMM, WHERE COULD THEY HAVE GOT TO?

COME ON THEN IF YOU THINK YOU’RE HARD ENOUGH!

OH MY GOD! LET’S SEE WHAT YOU’RE MADE OF..

23 SUNDAY EVENING. HEY, YOU’VE GOT A MASSIVE BRUISE ON YOUR RIBS...

OH, THAT’LL BE FROM YESTERDAY’S MATCH…...

I DON’T KNOW HOW YOU CAN WELL YOU DON’T SEEM TO LIKE SUCH A VIOLENT SPORT…... MIND WIPING OUT ZOMBIES...

OH THAT’S NOT THE SAME, THAT’S PRETEND...

HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT I SAID?

ABOUT KILLING ZOMBIES?

NO STUPID, ABOUT TAKING IT FURTHER…...

THERE’S NO WAY I’M LETTING YOU TAKE PHOTOS OF ME WITH YOUR MOBILE!

YOU KNOW I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT…...

I DON’T KNOW… LET ME THINK ABOUT IT A BIT LONGER…...

YOU ALWAYS SAY THAT YOU LOVE ME: IT’S ABOUT TIME YOU SHOWED ME, ISN’T IT?

YES, AND I’VE NEVER LOVED ANYBODY LIKE I LOVE YOU, BUT I NEED MORE TIME.

24 I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR MON- WHAT WE’VE GOT IS SPE- THE OTHER DAY I SAW YOU OH THAT? THAT’S NOTHING, THS, I CAN’T WAIT FOREVER…... CIAL, YOU’LL NEVER FIND FOOLING AROUND WITH SOME IT’S NORMAL FOR GUYS TO ANYTHING LIKE IT…... GIRLS... FOOL AROUND...

YEAH, BUT YOU DON’T LET …... AND IF THEY DO YOU SPEND AGES NOT ANYONE GO ANYWHERE NEAR ME... SPEAKING TO ME AND YOU GET IN A SORRY, BUT IT’S STUFF RIGHT STROP…... I’VE BEEN WANTING TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT YOU’VE DONE IT AGAIN! YOU’VE FOR A WHILE... CHANGED THE SUBJECT AGAIN! STUFF? IS THERE ANY OTHER STUFF?

YES, BUT DON’T GET CROSS…...

IT’S JUST WE ALWAYS IS THAT EVERYTHING YOU GO OUT WITH YOUR WANTED TO TELL ME? FRIENDS…... I MISS MINE.

PFFF, YEAH BUT YOUR FRIENDS ARE SO UHM...YOUR STRAIGHT…... FRIEND RICARDO…...

… AND BORING...… YOU’VE WHAT SAID IT YOURSELF ABOUT HIM? BEFORE…...

I DON’T KNOW…... I JUST DON’T LIKE HIM…... YOU ACT DIFFERENTLY WHEN YOU’RE LOOK, RICARDO’S LIKE HIS FAMILY HAVE PROBLEMS AND I KIND OF WITH HIM. A BROTHER TO ME…... FEEL RESPONSIBLE FOR HIM…...

HE ISN’T A GOOD INFLUENCE…...

HE ISN’T A GOOD INFLUENCE? YOU SOUND LIKE MY OLD WOMAN!

IF YOU’RE AS KIND AS YOU SAY, YOU SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT, SHOULDN’T YOU?

25 COME ON MARTIN, DON’T BE LIKE THAT…...

IT’S LIKE YOU’RE DELI- BERATELY TRYING TO **** ME OFF!

OH, HELLO CAROL… OLIVIA’S NOT HERE, SHE’S AT A BASKETBALL GAME... COME ON IN THEN, I THINK I KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO TALK TO ME ABOUT…...

HELLO CARMEN, I DIDN’T COME TO SEE HER, I CAME TO SEE YOU…...

THE FOLLOWING DAY. HAVE YOU SEEN H…...HI OLIVIA...… SH... …SHE WAS CAROLINA? PLAYING BASKETBALL…... WHAT’S THE MATTER?

CAROLINA!

EH, EH...

26 CALM DOWN CALM DOWN?! MY FOLKS AND JUST WHEN I’D SORTED WHAT THE **** DID YOU OLIVIA... ARE PACKING ME OFF TO MY HOLIDAY OUT WITH TELL MY MUM AND DAD?! IRELAND FOR THE WHOLE MARTIN…... SUMMER! YOU’RE RIGHT, I’M SORRY, I SHOULDN’T HAVE GONE TO YOUR FOLKS…...

THE THING IS YOU DON’T REALISE BUT YOU’RE NOT YOU ANYMORE, IT’S LIKE YOU’VE HAD A THAT’S MY BUSINESS!! AND I TOLD YOU, YOU’RE MY FRIEND PERSONALITY TRANSPLANT…... YOU SHOULD LEAVE OUT OF IT! AND I’M WORRIED ABOUT YOU…...

WELL FROM NOW ON YOU‘LL HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT FINDING ANOTHER FRIEND TO PUT UP WITH YOUR STUPID IDEAS...

HEY, THAT’S OUT YOUR PROBLEM IS IF EVERYTHING’S SO GREAT WITH HIM, LAST SATURDAY? THEY OF ORDER... THAT YOUR’RE WHY DON’T YOU ASK HIM ABOUT LAST WERE PLAYING AWAY…... SO JEALOUS YOU SATURDAY NIGHT? CAN’T STAND IT. ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THAT? WHY DON’T YOU ASK HIM?

YOU’RE JUST NOT YOU’RE...… YOU’RE LIKE THAT THAT’S WHAT YOU’RE THE SAME ANYMORE LITTLE DOG THAT LOOKED LIKE WHEN YOU’RE WITH GO TO OLIVIA, YOU’VE LOST SO FRIGHTENED AT ITS MARTIN…... HELL! YOUR SPARK…... OWNER…...

NO WAY IS THAT LOVE...

27 WHERE R U? WHAT HAPPENED LAST SATURDAY AT FTBLL, WHY? NIGHT, MARTIN?

EH?

THERE WASN’T A MATCH, WAS WHO TOLD YOU THERE? THAT?!

WHO’S GRASSED?!

THAT’S NOTHING TO SO IT’S TRUE THEN? DO WITH YOU…...

WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT’S NOTHING TO DO WITH ME?!

I’M SUPPOSED TO TELL YOU EVERYTHING I DO! WHO I’M WITH, WHERE I’M GOING AND YOU JUST LIE TO ME!

OK, I LIED... BECAUSE GIRLS DON’T UN- GOING AROUND PICKING DERSTAND THAT STUFF... FIGHTS? WE WENT TO SETTLE A SCORE WITH THE GUYS FROM THE OTHER TEAM…... IT’S NO BIG DEAL...

I SEE, THE BRUISE WHY DIDN’T YOU WHAT’RE YOU TALKING DO YOU THINK THAT’S GOT WAS FROM THE FIGHT…... TELL ME? ABOUT? TO DO WITH BEING A GIRL?

28 LOOK I’M GETTING FED UP NOW TELL ME WHO WHAT’RE YOU GONNA DO? WITH YOUR NONSENSE…... GRASSED! SETTLE A SCORE WITH ME?

WELL IT WON’T BE BECAUSE YOU DON’T TELL ME, WHO RAQUEL? THE PAKI? DESERVE IT…... WAS IT? WHO TOLD YOU? CAROLINA?

OF COURSE, CAROLINA... THAT ****STIRRER!

I’LL TEACH HER A THING OR CA... CAROL... TWO!

29 “YOU’RE LIKE THAT LITTLE DOG THAT CAROL... LOOKED SO FRIGHTENED AT ITS OWNER”

MARTÍN, NO!

30 HUH!

NO! I’LL LET YOU GO THIS TIME…...!

BUT NOT WITHOUT OWWWW, TEACHING YOU A LESSON... MY HEAD...

I’LL DEAL WITH YOU LATER... YOU CAN STAY WITH YOUR WEIRDO? WEIRDO FRIEND…...

31 ARE YOU ALRIGHT, CAROL?

THE FOLLOWING DAY. WHAT DO WE DO IF HE GETS AGGRESSIVE? YEAH, BUT WHAT IF HE DOES? THERE THEY ARE... WELL WE’LL CALL THE POLICE, WON’T WE?

YEAH, AND IT LOOKS LIKE THEY’RE ARGUING. HE WOULDN’T DARE WITH ALL THESE PEOPLE AROUND.

32 YEP, COME LOOK, I THINK ON... MARTIN’S LEAVING...

HOW ARE FINE, FINE… I BROKE ... FOR GOOD! AND LOOK AT YOU! NOT A WELL, I’VE DONE ALL THE YOU? UP WITH HIM...… SINGLE TEAR! CRYING I NEEDED TO…...

HE DOESN’T DESERVE ANY MORE TEARS...

WHAT’S THANKS FOR BEING WE’RE YOUR MATES…... YOU CAN’T GET ME TOO RAQUEL, ME TOO… HERE FOR ME GUYS.... BUT I DIDN’T WANT TO THAT? RID OF US THAT EASILY. BE THAT LITTLE DOG.... OH MY GOD, I WAS SO SCARED!

NOTHING, NOTHING, I’LL TELL YOU SOME OTHER TIME...

SHALL WE GO AND HAVE A NICE RELAXING DRINK?

YOU GO, THERE’S STILL SOMETHING I NEED TO DO…...

33 HELLO I’LL GET IT... CAROL.

DON’T CLOSE THE DOOR, PLEASE.

I’VE GOT SOMETHING FOR WHAT IS IT? I’M NOT IN TRUST ME…... OPEN IT OLIVIA! BUT HOW? YOU... THE MOOD FOR ANY MORE SURPRISES…... AND YOU’LL FIND OUT…...

WELL...… UHM...… I BUT I THINK THAT’S COME HERE YOU! GOT A BIT WET…... ALL OF THEM, ISN’T IT?

AND DON’T WORRY ABOUT MARTIN…... GIVE ME ANOTHER HUG!

I DUMPED HIM FOR YOU’RE SUCH A SOFTY! GOOD!

I’VE LEARNT MY LES- I’VE JUST THOUGHT OF SON, CAROL! THANKS SOMETHING…... TO YOU... I’M GOING TO DO A COMIC STRIP ABOUT THIS STORY…...

I’LL CALL IT: “HOOKED ON YOU”.

THE END 34 Survey on Equality and Prevention of Gender-based Violence in Adolescence at:

www.mspsi.es

Cristina Durán (1970) and Miguel Ángel Giner Bou (1969) graduated in Fine Arts under the speciality of Drawing from the San Carlos School of Fine Arts in Valencia (UPV). In 1993 they opened the LaGRUAestudio where they have been professionally engaged ever since in comics and editorial and advertising illustration. In 2009, Ediciones Sins Entido published its graphic novel UNA POSIBILIDAD ENTRE MIL. In March 2010 it was also published in French by the publishing house Dargaud under the title UNE CHANCE SUR UN MILLION. The novel was shortlisted for the National Comic Prize 2010 awarded by the Culture Ministry and in 2011 it won second prize in Fran- ce in the 1er Trophée “les Bds qui font la différence”.

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35 HOOKEDOLIVIA AND MARTIN'S ON YOU STORY

“It might seem made up, a cautionary tale rather than a true story, or something surreal and far off, as if real life had nothing to do with the pictures in the comic-strip or the characters with people we see every day on the metro or the bus. But I can assure you that Olivia and Martin’s story is real and the characters in it aren’t from another planet or a figment of someone’s imagination. The main characters could be any of those girls or boys you see each day around school or down at the local shopping centre. People you know, girls who fall for boys who seem lovely at first, but who then start thinking they own the girl, that she belongs to him…and they stop being lovely and turn violent...”

Taken from the foreword by Miguel Lorente Acosta Government Delegate for Gender-based Violence