The Problem of Child Abuse in Society - Essay Example

Child Abuse Child Abuse is a major problem in our society at the present. The survey carried out by the Child Protective Service (CPS) agencies in the United States shows that the child abuse has 1.7% increase over the number of children which were reported in 1996. With the passage of time, a number of people are starting to report child abuse whereby the reporting levels have increased to 41% between the years 1988 and 1997. There are four forms of child maltreatment - emotional abuse, neglect, physical abuse and sexual abuse. Emotional Abuse is also known as the verbal and mental abuse which basically takes into count the acts or the failures to act by parents or caretakers that have caused or could cause serious behavioral, emotional or mental disorders. This can include Parents/caretakers using extreme and /or bizarre forms of punishment. For instance it could include putting a child in a closet or dark room or being tied to a chair for a long period of time or even threatening or terrorizing a child. Neglect is basically a failure to provide for the childs basic needs and it could either be physical, educational or emotional in nature. Physical neglect could be in the form of not providing food or clothing, appropriate medical care, supervision or even improper weather protection. Educational neglect is failure at providing schooling or special educational needs. For instance it could entail of not helping them on homework or teaching them how to read. Emotional neglect includes the lack of any emotional support and love. Physical Abuse is the infliction of physical injury upon a child. This may include burning, hitting, punching, shaking, kicking, beating or in all essence harming a child. Sexual Abuse is basically an inappropriate sexual behavior with a child. This could include fondling a childs genitals, making the child fondle the adults genitals, intercourse, incest, rape and sexual exploitation. To be considered child abuse these acts have to be committed by a person responsible for the care of the child. In the 1997 survey, the percentage from the 1986 survey has undergone some shifts. In 1997, physical abuse represented 22% of confirmed cases, sexual abuse 8%, neglects 54%, emotional maltreatment 4% and other forms of maltreatment 12%. In 1986, when approximately 26% of the children were reported for physical abuse, 16% for sexual abuse, neglect was 55% and 8% for emotional maltreatment. As far as the child fatalities in the current times are concerned, a number of young children remain at high risk of loss of their lives. Between 1995 and 1997, 78% of children under the age of five, at the time of their death, while 38% were less than one year of age. Cause of death was from neglect, physical abuse and a combination of neglectful and physically abusive parenting. Maltreatment of children is not a new phenomenon to state as a matter of fact. It dates back far into history with traces as far as the colonial times and even back to biblical time periods. During the recent years child maltreatment has had an increase in the public’s eye. There are many factors that are in line with child maltreatment. The maltreatment of children not only affects the children themselves, but also affects the family internally making it dysfunctional. Physical abuse may be best defined as any non-accidental physical injury by a person who has care, custody or control of a child. The definition contains two key aspects - the act is intentional or willful and/or the act has resulted in physical injury. Accident does not qualify as child abuse. Physically abused children do not fit any type of stereotype. Abuse occurs in all neighborhoods. In addition, abusers come in all shapes, sizes, colors and sexes. There are many signs of physical abuse as we find out further. There are always those injuries that consist of a normal childhood upbringing, such as falling of their bike or bumping their head. Then, there are those which they cannot be explained as such. Another sign of abuse is fractures and burns. Spiral fractures are usually breaks in the hummers or femur resulting from twisting of the limb. Head and internal injuries are often signs of abuse such as occasional whiplash or shaken baby syndrome stand out as the examples of head injuries. Chest and abdominal injuries are common in abuse as well. The statistics on physical child abuse are alarming as we delve on pretty much further. Of the estimated hundreds of thousands of children battered each year by a parent or close relative, a number of them die. The ones who survive have emotional trauma which remains within them long after the external bruises have healed. Children who have been abused may display a poor self-image, inability to depend on or trust towards others. Child abuse is a matter of degree which essentially speaks of the degree to which a parent uses inappropriate or excessive control strategies with a child and/or fails to provide standards of care giving. In fact, abusive parents often do not know that they are being abusive. Some parents think society places no restraint on such techniques. Psychological abuse can include a number of different factors including neglect and verbal abuse. The majority of abuse that takes place is done psychologically rather than physically. Many children are simply ignored by their parents and have little or no involvement with them because of this reason. Children are also verbally abused and therefore are “beaten down” psychologically. Those who are abused psychologically tend to be very dependent and cannot take care of themselves. They have poor self-esteem and confidence and can have a poor relationship with their peers. On the other end of the spectrum, physical abuse occurs in 30 percent of child abuse cases. A very serious result of physical abuse is known as SBS (Shaken Baby Syndrome). This condition is cause by violent shaking of a small child, which in turn causes the brain to bruise and eyes to bleed. Children show many signs of physical abuse in their day-to-day life. These signs include shying away from adult contact, lack of trust, aggressive behavior, self-destructive behavior, extended days away from home and even suicide attempts. An important thing to consider regarding child abuse is the child abuser. There are many ways to identify whether or not someone is an abuser or not. Typically, a child abuser is a harsh disciplinarian, describes his or her child consistently in a negative way, the explanations of the child’s injuries are not probable and he or she becomes defensive or refuses to explain when asked about the child’s injury nonetheless. The abuser may have a social or psychological problem such as depression or low self-esteem. It should be remembered that child abuse is mostly caused by mistreatment of a child by a parent or any other adult. The other ways that child abuse is caused is by neglecting of a child. BIBLIOGRAPHY Lancaster, Jane B. (1987). Child Abuse and Neglect: Biosocial Dimensions. Aldine De Gruyter Karlson, Henry C. (1991). Theories of Child Abuse and Neglect: Differential Perspectives, Summaries, and Evaluations. Praeger Word Count: 1,162 Read More