Child Abuse

Child Abuse Melanie Hegel The University of Texas at El Paso

Child Abuse

Abstract A report of child abuse is made every ten seconds. The most common child abuses are physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect or abandonment and emotional or physical abuse. In this essay Im going to talk about what child abuse is and its problem in our community. Although physically harming a child is more commonly regarded as child abuse there are other ways of committing the crime. The purpose is to present how much impact each type of abuse has and their common signs to detect them. Moreover, being a community problem we should all act against it given the circumstances.

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Carolyn Ainscough said the abuser's desire to abuse is not created by the child - it is there before the child appears. (Ainscough, 2000.) Child abuse has been in our society for thousands of years making it a popular problem. According to KidsHealth there are four types of child abuse: physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect or abandonment and emotional or physical abuse (KidsHealth Child Abuse. October 23, 2013). There has not been a real cure for affected children but there are centers and groups who can help the child in danger. The sad fact is that the most common type of abuser is the own childs mom or guardian. Child abuse happens when a parent or other adults causes serious physical or emotional harm to a child. (KidsHealth. Child Abuse. October 23, 2013) When people think of child abuse, their first thought probably is of physical abuse such as striking, kicking, or shaking a child. Physical abuse can also include: holding a child under water, tying a child up, intentionally burning a child or scalding a child with hot water, throwing an object at a child or using an object to beat a child, starving a child or failing to provide a child with food. (KidsHealth. Child Abuse. October 23, 2013) One of the most common physical abuse is abusive head trauma best known as shaken baby syndrome. It is actually the highest death rate in the United States from abuse. Physical abuse involves physical harm or injury to the child. It may be the result of a deliberate attempt to hurt the child, but not always. It can also result from severe discipline, such as using a belt on a child, or physical punishment that is inappropriate to the childs age or physical condition. (Child Abuse & Neglect: Recognizing, Preventing and Reporting Child Abuse. October 23, 2013) The National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect estimates as many as 100,000 to 200,000 children are

Child Abuse physically abused each year. Five times as many are neglected. Abuse is the second leading cause of death (of children), behind Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, for children 0-5 years of age. (New Hope .Facts About Child Abuse. November 11, 2013)

Sexual abuse happens when a child is raped or forced to commit a sexual act. But it's also any sort of sexual contact with a child or any behavior that is meant to sexually arouse the abuser (KidsHealth. Child Abuse. October 23, 2013). A child has an innocent mind and does not know that the touching in private areas is a no, no. Children or kids who have been sexually abused are most commonly people who they know or have trusted. Unfortunately most sexually abused kids are not abused once but many time from the offender. An estimated 1 in 4 girls, and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually abused before age 18. (New Hope. Facts About Child Abuse, November 11, 2013).The picture show statistics about child sexual abuse from Willow Tree Center, which also helps abused kids who have been affected by sexual abuse, by providing them counseling and support. Neglect is any action or inaction on the part of a caregiver that causes a child physical or emotional harm. Anything that interferes with a child's growth and development constitutes neglect. This also includes: failing to provide medical care when a child is injured or sick,

Child Abuse locking a child in a closet or room, placing a child in a dangerous situation that could lead to physical injury or death. (KidsHealth. Child Abuse. October 23, 2013). According to Blount County Children's Advocacy Center to a failure to supply the child with adequate food, clothing, shelter, education, supervision or health care, providing the parent or guardian is financially able to do so is considered child neglect. (New Hope Facts About Child Abuse. 2008) Neglect is actually considered the highest mortality rate of all four abuses. In Child Help the highest abuse was neglect with a 78.5% beating physical abuse with a 17.6%, sexual abuse with 9.1%, physiological maltreatment with 9.0%, medical neglect 2.2% and other/ unknown10.6%. (Child Abuse in America. National Child Abuse Statistics. January 1, 2013). Emotional abuse or psychological abuse is a pattern of behavior that has negative effects on a child's emotional development and sense of self-worth. Ignoring a child or withholding love, support, or guidance is considered emotional abuse. So is threatening, terrorizing, belittling, or constantly criticizing a child. (KidsHealth. Child Abuse. October 23, 2013). There are many different ways of emotional abuse from simply ignoring to terrorizing the child. Why does emotional abuse happen? Emotional abuse can, and does, happen in all types of families, regardless of their background. Most parents want the best for their children. However, some parents may emotionally and psychologically harm their children because of stress, poor

Child Abuse parenting skills, social isolation, and lack of available resources or inappropriate expectations of their children. (Child Physical Abuse. Child Physical Abuse. October 23, 2013) As a child you are always looking for the acceptance of people and the love of your parents. If a child is being abused by not receiving love and affection but is receiving neglect, isolation, exploiting, verbal assaulting and ignoring the child will grow up without stable emotions. If it happens there are a few suggestions from the American Humane Association: Never be afraid to apologize to your child. If you lose your temper and say something in anger that wasnt meant to be said, apologize. Children need to know that adults can admit when they are wrong. Dont call your child names or attach labels to your child. Names such as Stupid or Lazy, or phrases like good for nothing, Youll never amount to anything, If you could only be more like your brother, and You can never do anything right tear at a childs self-esteem. A child deserves respect. (Child Physical Abuse. Child Physical Abuse. October 23, 2013).

Conclusion We have seen that child abuse takes form in four parts, all of which are not necessarily exclusive from each other. Physical abuse is committed when physical harm is done to the child. Examples include starvation or hitting them. Sexual abuse happens when a child is raped or forced to commit a sexual act. But it's also any sort of sexual contact with a child or any behavior that is meant to sexually arouse the abuser. Due to their innocence, the victim may suffer such offense more than once. Neglect also causes physical harm but through carelessness such as failing to provide medical care. It may also cause harm when locking a child in a closet enabling

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both physical and emotional stress. Lastly, emotional abuse interferes with the childs emotional development and self-worth. Even though the physical type is more commonly known, the other types are also a serious matter. There are centers and institutions that provide advising like the American Humane Association. We should take precautions and acknowledge child abuse as a community problem and do something about it.

Child Abuse References

Child Abuse & Neglect. Recognizing, Preventing and Reporting Child Abuse. Retrieved October 23, 2013, from http://www.helpguide.org/mental/child_abu Child Physical Abuse.Child Physical Abuse. Retrieved October 23, 2013, from http://www.americanhumane.org/children/stop-child-abuse/fact-sheets/child-physical-abuse.html KidsHealth. Child Abuse. Retrieved October 23, 2013, from http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/talk/child_abuse.html Ainscough, C. Breaking Free Quotes. goodReads. Retrieved from http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/2337920-breaking-free-help-for-survivors-of-childsexual-abuse-insight New Hope. Facts About Child Abuse. Retrieved 2008 , from http://www.blountkids.org/abuseinformation-answers/ Our Services. - Willow Tree Child Advocacy Center. Retrieved November 11, 2013, from http://www.willowtreecac.org/services/ Child Abuse in America. National Child Abuse Statistics. Retrieved January 1, 2013, from http://www.childhelp-usa.com/pages/statistics