l, emotional (verbal), and sexual (incest) abuse. Inappropriate parents behavior is usually, most often the case. Sometimes Child Abuse Essay may be linked under a more broader term, maltreatment or neglect.
Child abuse has a profound impact on families, victims (children), the abuser, and for future generations to come. For instance, Jenifer is a thirteen year old and she has a very nice, wealthy, and happy family. Her best friend Tina is occasionally physically abused by her father. Sometimes Tina comes to school with a horrendous bruise on her body and she seems very quiet and upset.
Jenifer is scared for Tina but does not know how to react and she is scared to tell anyone even her mom. Child abuse is a widely known and sometimes hidden problem that has many effects on the stages of human development in children. Many children are terribly afraid to admit abuse in the home or when someone known is abused by a family member. Children should have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness in ones home which is supposed to be a place to go for comfort and safety. The abused are said to become the abusers in adulthood.
Giovannone and Bederra say that “the basic problem in defining abuse is that the meaning of most actions is determined by the environment in which it may occur”. “Also they defined abuse as an incidental physical injury that results from acts of omissions on the part of a parent(s) or guardian(s)” (27). Physical abuse is a type of abuse that involves inappropriate and developmentally damaging use of a type of “physical” force. The use of physical force against children seems to reflect a mixture of positive beliefs in force as a tool for shaping a child’s behavior. There may also be emotional tension in the parent. Some parents may see their child do something wrong for example, running in the house when told several times to walk.
The parent decides to use physical force instead of alternative consequences. Many social workers explored the meaning and significance of violence in the family. They concluded that “violence is deeply rooted in some basic aspect of the way our families work, particularly their focus on power and authoritarian values. ” (et al.
134). The use of force against a child illustrates the ill affects of parental failure to adapt to a child. Many parents who spank their child at a young age, see the child maturing in size, so they may apply a more drastic force of hitting. (corporal punishment) “Corporal punishment is identified as a poor disciplinary action used in childhood but may be much worse for adolescents.
” (Helfer 271)TYPES OF CHARACTERISTICS OF PHYSICAL ABUSE:Punching ChokingSlappingStranglingSmackingStabbingYanking (pulling) hairKickingPushingDraggingBeatingPinchingThose are just of few of the characteristics physical abuse there are others even more severe like the actual attempt to kill the child. These actions may all be used or the abuser may choose different options. They all may be used or just one or two. Any of these physical actions are very harmful and sometimes deadly for the victim.
According to the Child Abuse and Neglect Statistics from the National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse a survey was done in 1994. Physical abuse represented 21% of confirmed cases but back in 1986 it was 27%. In 1986, approximately 22. 6 children per 1,000 experienced abuse or neglect.
Only half of these incidents were reported to CPS agencies. In 1994, an estimated 1,271 child abuse and neglect fatalities were confirmed by CPS agencies. Since 1985, the rate of child abuse fatalities has increased by 48%. Based on these numbers, more than three children die each day.
(Wiese and Daro, aol survey)Another type of abuse is emotional abuse. Emotional abuse seems very hard to define but it is a very devastating social problem of children and youth in this society. Even though it seems hard to define, it is easy to identify if a person is around this type of abuse, for example a close friend being around and seeing the sorrow. “Emotional abuse is the willful destruction or significant impairment of a child’s competence.
” (Garbarino, 11). If an infant is emotionally abused, it usually involves a parents refusal .
