Child Abuse
Child abuse is an ever-spreading problem in our society today. The number of cases that involve physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and physical and emotional neglect have all risen significantly in the last few years. Specifically, the number of physically abused children has gone up from 311,500 to 614,100 (a 97% increase) from 1986 to 1993(National Incidence Study of Child Abuse and Neglect, 1993). There are three main views of child abuse quantitative, which is how wide spread the problem is and how many people it affects, qualitative, which is how a person is affected, and harm, which is the physical harm done to the child. The other issue that comes up with child abuse is ethics. Ethics are what is believed to be "crossing the line" and the point where it is felt that something has to be done to help a child being abused. The National Incidence Study will be used to illustrate the quantitative effects and statistics of child abuse. David Pelzer, author of A Child Called "It", went through some of the most outrageous things that I have ever heard of. His life stories will help describe the qualitative effects of child abuse. "'You've made my life a living hell!' she sneered. 'Now it's my time I showed you what he
I think one big reason that the numbers are up so much is the fact that child abuse was more tolerated in the past and even considered just disciplining the child, not abusing the child. Another thing is that more and more people outside of the household are taking responsibility for the child's safety and are reporting what they see. One more factor that I think contributed to the drastic increase in cases is that the children themselves are being educated about what is right and what is not acceptable and whom they can tell if their parents are mistreating them. Neglect happens all the time. When an adult neglects a child it is totally inexcusable. That adult, for one reason or another, is responsible for the child and if they cannot handle paying the necessary attention to the child, they should not be caring for any child. Neglect can take its toll on a child just as bad as physical and emotional abuse can harm a child. you will not have any "ill-will" towards anyone and you will not treat anyone badly because you will remember what it feels like to be treated that way. Seeing and listening Mr. Pelzer made me think that anything is possible and that as long as we use common sense, we will survive any situation put in front of us. Emotional abuse is on an incredible rise too. This for some reason surprised me, I'm not sure why but I didn't think you could actually tell that a person had been emotionally abused. I just figured the numbers would be the same as physically abused children because once a child is physically abused; they must have some kind of emotional damage too. According to the NIS-3 (1993), the more recent estimate of the number of emotionally abused children was 183% higher in 1993 than it was in 1986 (188,100 in 1986 versus 532,200 in 1993). To show just how much child abuse is rising the third study is compared to the second study, which was conducted in 1986. A parent does have the right to raise their child and as long as the punishments they are using are sensible, then it is no one else's job to tell them how to bring up their child. I also think that if a person uses common sense you will be able to tell if the child is being disciplined or being abused. However, most people do know when the line is being crossed and can tell if it is child abuse. For example, if a child misbehaves and is spanked by his/her mother or father, I think that is a reasonable way to teach right from wrong, in certain situations. Now if the child is beaten with punches, kicks, or even if a weapon is being used then the parents have crossed the line and someone needs to step in and save the child. In conclu
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Approximate Word count = 1781
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)
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