Child Abuse - Rough Draft - JustAnswer



Child Abuse - Rough Draft

Child abuse is an American crisis, and some may downplay the occurrence and significance of it, however, this form of violence has severe lifelong negative consequences that must be addressed to allow adult survivors to be successful in their personal and professional lives. There are many different types of abuse; among them are sexual and physical abuse, nutritional neglect, alcohol or drug abuse, educational, nutritional, and medical neglect, lack of supervision and child endangerment (Caplin, 2008). The terminology "child abuse" refers to the mistreatment, violence or neglect that any child under the adult age may experience when in the care of someone they depend on, trust, and many times love, such as parents, sibling, relative, guardian or other type of caregiver. It can take place at any place and at any time, including the child's home, school, day care, or anywhere else they may be. Often a single child may be subjected to many forms of abuse through-out their lifetime, and most times it is repeated over and over again.

The categories of abuse include physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect. Physical abuse can range from one or more incidences of deliberate force against a child wherein the child is injured or harmed or in close danger of being injured or harmed. This can include hitting, pushing, slapping, shaking, beating, choking, kicking, biting, or otherwise assaulting a child. It can also include use of a weapon or tool, holding a child underneath water, or using harmful methods of restraint or force. Sexual abuse is almost self explanatory; it included the exploitation of a child for sexual purposes, fondling, touching, having the child touch you, rape, intercourse, exhibitionism, incest, sodomy, pornography, and prostitution amongst others. Emotional abuse consists of a more mental form of violence, and harms a child's sense of self; name-calling, verbal threats, intimidation, exploitation, unreasonable demands, exposing them to family or other violence, terrorizing them and any act that puts them at risk of damage to their cognitive, behavioral, mental and emotional health. Neglect can have portions of all of these, as you can emotionally neglect a child by not showing that you care for them or love them and by failing to provide them with a sense of worth, love and safety. However, neglect is often looked at in terms of failing to provide the basic needs to keep them healthy such as; regular baths, shelter, clothing, food, protection from harm, medical care, and an education (Caplin, 2008).

Abusers will use a wide range of different tactics to hurt, abuse or gain access to a child, gain control over them, exert power over them, and most of all, prevent them from telling others about the abuse they are experiencing, or receiving help or support from others. Abuse is definitely a misuse of a person’s power over someone else, and a violation of trust. It's an epidemic that continues, despite our best efforts to stem it, and contributes to creating damaged adult survivors who find it very difficult to live a healthy life. The fight against child abuse costs the United States billions of dollars a year and an additional $55.4 billion dollars a year is spent on adult criminals with a history of childhood abuse.

Figure 1. The costs of child abuse. An additional $55.4 billion dollars is spent each year on adult criminals with a history of childhood abuse.

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Note. (1996) Child Abuse Statistics. Child Abuse Prevention Center. Retrieved on October 25, 2008 from statistics.html

Studies have shown that children who have suffered child abuse are more likely than other children to have more discipline problems, have lower academic performances, have poorer peer relations and suffer from depression and more externalized and internalized disorders than children who have not suffered abuse (Eckenrode, 1993). Child abuse can and most times will have devastating consequences for its victims. It can affect every aspect of their life throughout childhood and on to adulthood. It can affect their physical, mental, behavioral, psychological, academic, interpersonal, sexual, spiritual and self-perceptual lives. Sometimes the symptoms will not manifest right away, but may make itself known in adolescence or adulthood, and sometimes there are signs during childhood that can be recognized should one choose to look closely. Further, the effects of child abuse can differ from victim to victim, some lash out, while others self-harm. However there will always be some type of outlet for or consequence of the abuse and at times it can be fatal. In the case of a case of child abuse in Alaska that occurred from 1961 to 1981 and involved the abuse of 110 Alaskan children who were sexually assaulted and abused by over 12 priests and 3 Catholic Church volunteers. Those children are now adults, but consider that since the cases came to light, 22 of those children, now adults, have committed suicide.

Figure 2. From 1961 to 1981, 110 Eskimo children in Alaska were sexually abused by 12 priests and 3 Catholic Church volunteers. 22 of them have since committed suicide.

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Note. (2008, June 26) Child Sexual Abuse: Suffering Years of Unrelenting Sorrow. Retrieved October 25, 2008 from

The responses from males and females to child abuse can differ widely, both in childhood and into developed adulthood. Males are more likely to externalize their response to abuse by displaying increased aggression, spousal abuse, violence, delinquency, sexual aggression and sexual abuse of others weaker than themselves. Females tend to internalize their response to abuse by developing suicidal or self-abusal tendencies, cutting, depression, low self esteem, sexual disorders and psychological disorders. Many people are still under the impression that 'stranger danger' is the cause of much child abuse; however the fact is that most of the dangers to children come from people who the parent or the child knows well. They are often someone who is trusted by the family, a member of the family, and often the parent them self.

Figure 3. This visual, geared towards students and educators, provides a graphic representation of the negative consequences of bullying for the bullies themselves.

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Note. (2004, May 19) Information for parents about child abuse. Retrieved October 20, 2008, from the Care Program: Pediatric Services. University Hospital website at

A large percentage of child abuse cases are reported in and from the home of the abused child, however, they can and do also take place in institutions concerned with and for children such as schools, child and day care centers, churches, and babysitters (Robinson, 2001). UNICEF has reported that the well-being of the child has been graded lowest among developed nations in the United States & the United Kingdom. Their study also stated that the problems of child neglect and child abuse are more prevalent in single parent families as opposed to two parent families where both of the child's parents are involved (Iadicola, 2003). Many opportunities exist for child abuse when both parents have to work, when children are put into extra curricular sports and classes, when a large amount of trust is put into members of a families religion, teachers, tutors, family friends, and children's friends. As a parent, you can take as many precautions as you think are necessary, and still find that the protection you put around your child is inadequate when the threat comes from within. Computers have opened a larger playing field from strangers and other predators. Allowing a child unlimited access to the computer and the internet is akin to allowing them unlimited access to the 'bad' strangers and pedophiles of the world. Pedophiles have learned to hide behind the anonymity of the internet and to become a friend to the child in hope of enticing the child to come to them of their own free will, regardless of the fact that they psychologically manipulate these children negating the actuality of free will. Domains that exploit children and further the acts of pedophilia online are rampant, and as of 2004 62% of all 'child abuse' domains were hosted in the United States, while another 28% of them were hosted in Russia (IWF, 2004).

Figure 4. Regions – commercial child abuse domains: * 62% of commercial child abuse domains hosted in US. * 28% commercial child abuse domains hosted in Russia

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Note. (2004, August 1) Trends 2006. Retrieved October 25, 2008 from the Internet Watch Foundation website at

As you can see in the illustration below, the statistics are frightening in that as many incidences are reported, there are many more that are never recognized or reported and the death toll attributed to abuse continues to rise exponentially. According to , a report of abuse in the United States is made every 10 seconds, 4 children die every day as a result of child abuse and 3 out of 4 of them are under the age of four years old. Child abuse is not relegated to any social class, religion or ethnic group, it crosses all lines.

Figure 5. National child abuse statistics

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Note. (2006) Retrieved on October 25, 2008 from the Child Help; the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse at

The fact is, child abuse not only affects the life of the abused child, but consequently the society in which they live. They act out and tend to abuse others, they act older than they actually are, and are punished accordingly, creating a cycle. An attempt should be made by family members, parents, teachers and others to recognize the symptoms and behaviors of child abuse before the child moves into adult life and society. Punishments are not the answer and cannot be considered the solution to these unwanted behaviors. Victims of child abuse need counseling and proper guidance. Many of them believe that they are worth nothing, that they are useless and suffer from various forms of depression and anger. Some parents may make excuses to justify the abuse and patterns of abuse as a necessary act for the care, correction or betterment of the child and their future. If the child

• Cringes when you reach for them or shows other fearful behaviors

• Has a sudden change in social behavior or academic performance

• Shows no interest in age appropriate games, toys, or lessons

• Neglects to receive helps for medical or physical problems that have been brought to their parents attention one or more times

• Has learning difficulties or problems concentrating, that cannot be attributed to psychological or physical causes

• Is consistently watchful, as if preparing or waiting for something bad to happen

• Is overly passive, withdrawn, or compliant

• Lacks adult supervision

• Doesn't want to go home or makes excuses not to go home

• Comes to activities or school early and stays late

then it is extremely important, if nothing else, to start paying more attention to the child and their behaviors. It's far better to assume something is going on and be wrong, than to ignore it and find out later that there was a problem. When a child's well-being is at stake, it's never inappropriate to be sure that they are safe, and are existing in a safe environment. In spite of the great (and growing) number of health & human service organizations in the United States, child abuse cases continue to be on the rise. UNICEF reports that child abuses cases have tripled during recent years (Iadicola, 2003). Our governments role is also concerning in the legislation is only half the battle. Social awareness must be developed, and the rising cases of child abuse only prove the government and governmental organizations are not truly effective. It's not enough to legislate and create awareness, but concrete steps need to be taken at the inter and intra-agency level, involving schools, churches and especially parents in spreading information and garnering cooperation in fighting against the practices of child abuse (Heneson, 1992).

Figure 6. Experts suggest ways to help prevent child abuse

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Note. (2007, November 3) Ways to Prevent Child Abuse. Retrieved on October 25, 2008 from

It is clear that in the United States, we are facing a serious problem of Child Abuse. It must be understood that the children of this country are as deserving of social justice rights as anyone else. Our health and human service workers are here to enforce these rights for the children that they are unable to enforce themselves. By imparting awareness to society at large, they can help bring about changes in the thinking and attitudes of the general public; making them understand the importance of fair and just treatment for these smaller members of our society. There is no doubt that their job is hard, and will continue to get more challenging as society grows (Heneson, 1992). With the help, support and assistance of citizens, parents, the government, community associations, the educational establishment, religious organizations, the corporate sector, and all others within our society, we can make an impact on stopping child abuse at all levels and increasing public awareness of it's effects and dangers.

References

Caplin, C. (2008). Child Maltreatment. Retrieved on October 30, 2008 from

Fromm, S. (2001). Child Abuse Statistics. Retrieved on October 30, 2008 from statistics.html

Eckenrode, J., Laird, M., & Doris, J. (1993). School performance and disciplinary problems among abused and neglected children. "Developmental Psychology, 29," 53-62.

Bellamy, M. (2008). Alaska and Unveiled Secret. Retrieved on October 31, 2008 from

Robinson, B. A. (2001). Abuse at Canadian Native Residential Schools. Journal Religious Tolerance.

Iadicola, P. & Shupe, E. D. (2003). Violence, Inequality, and Human Freedom. Published by Rowman & Littlefield.

IWF. (2004). Internet Wathc foundation Statistics. Retrived on October 31, 2008 from

Heneson, L. (1992). The Secretary's initiative on child abuse and neglect. Children Today.

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