The Consequences of Child Abuse - Essay Example

CHILD ABUSE CHILD ABUSE Introduction Children have a right to enjoy freedom, safety and care from their parents or guardians. Not all children in the world are lucky to enjoy these fundamental rights. In some cases, children are mistreated by parents, guardians or other adults around them. Child abuse is as the emotional, physical, mental or sexual mistreatment of children. Child abuse can also be as neglecting to provide a child with a need that can lead to that child being affected negatively. For example, if a guardian ignores to provide basic elementary education, then that parent has abused that child. Even though there are rules that are at protecting children, child abuse is still an enormous issue that plagues our future generation. Child abuse negatively affects the physical, mental, emotional and sexual condition of a child. However, there are solutions that are devised to fight child abuse. This article will scrutinize the various forms of child abuse and the solutions that can help solve this issue (Crozier, Hopper and Kolk, 2013). Type of abuse A). Physical abuse Child abuse can be in different forms. One of the most common child abuse methods is through physical abuse. Physical child abuse is the most noticeable form of child abuse. Physical child abuse is as the tangible harm caused by physical molestation of a child. Physical injury can be enacted by kicking, biting, caning or even burning a child. Physical molestation can also be brought about by use of the improper discipline of a kid. For example, if a parent regularly punishes his/her child using violent methods that entail excessive caning or any other form of physical harm, then the parent has physically hurt his/her child. According to the USDHHS (United States Department of Health and Human Services), inappropriate discipline was the number one cause of physical abuse among children in the year 2007. It is not parents alone that can physically harm children. Children, especially in developing countries can suffer from physical molestation by other adults like teachers. Most developing countries lack the legal framework in terms of rules and regulations that protect the children. Consequently, children are brutally disciplined in school and left with physical injuries. Some societies still dwell in the age that believed in the adage ‘spare the rod, spoil your child’. Often, most parents in these societies excessively punish their children. Physical child abuse can be detected by noticing physical injuries like cuts, bruises and broken bones (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2013). B) Emotional abuse Another prevalent form of child abuse is emotional mistreatment. Emotional child abuse is when someone does things or lacks to do things that can result in a child being emotionally deprived. Doing things that irritate or scare a child can negatively affect the emotional condition of that child. If an adult constantly scares a child by threatening that child or telling the kid scary non-existent stories, then that child will be emotionally deprived. A child can also be emotionally affected if adults around her fail to do certain things that are necessary for that kid’s emotional well-being. For instance, if parents observe that their children are hurt or crying and fail to show concern or support then that the child can be emotionally affected. Children can also be psychologically affected if their parents choose to isolate them. If children are not the time and freedom to interact with other children or even adults, then those children will be psychologically affected. Saying negative things to children by abusing them or regularly discouraging them can result in a child being gloomy, dejected and distressed. Ridiculing a child can significantly affect how a child develops emotionally (Crozier, Hopper and Kolk, 2013). Ordinary social interactions are important in the psychological well-being of a child. Emotional abuse can also be done by forcing a child to do evil things. Some adults may choose to manipulate children illegally by forcing them to steal or lie without proper understanding; this will negatively affect the emotional health of a child. Emotional molestation can also be if a guardian chooses not to provide good psychological care to a child. However, emotional molestation is not brought about by separate occasional instances of abuse and neglect. Emotional molestation occurs when a guardian continually ignores and ridicules a child (Crozier, Hopper and Kolk, 2013). C) Mental abuse Another common form of child molestation is mental abuse. Mental abuse is closely related to emotional abuse. Mental abuse is caused by doing things to a child that can lead to mental deterioration of that kid. Psychological abuse can be as the corrosion of the mental health of a child. Mental abuse can be caused by limiting the physical space that a child operates. Not giving a child the permission to experience a healthy environment can mentally affect a child. Being careless on the moral development of a child can also lead that child to mental deprivation. For example, letting a child regularly play violent video games or watch television content meant for adults may mentally spoil that child. Mental abuse can also be done by corrupting a child’s perception. For instance, if a parent convinces a child that education is not good then that the mother can be said to be mentally abusing that kid. Mentally challenged children should be given proper mental health care by parents. Parents are to taking mentally sick children to a hospital. If a parent ignores to take a mentally sick child to a hospital, then that parent is said to be mentally abusing that child (Crozier, Hopper and Kolk, 2013). D) Sexual abuse Another common and arguably the worst form of child abuse is sexual molestation. Sexual child abuse is when a mature person sexually harasses a child. A child is said to be sexually when he/she is forcefully manipulated sexually by an adult. Sexual child abuse can be caused by inappropriately indulging in sexual behaviors with a child. Sexual abuse is commonly practiced by raping a child. Sexual abuse can also involve improper handling or caressing a child. Exposing children by showing them sexually obscene material like adult movies also negatively affects a child sexually. Intentionally showing a kid one’s private parts has an inevitable impact on the sexual behavior of a child. Adults who show genitals to children are said to be sexually manipulating those children. Adults can also sexually abuse children by using obscene sexual words when talking to them. Another way in which children can be sexually is being forced into prostitution. Child prostitution is a common occurrence in developing countries as underage girls are into to raise money for basic needs. Sexual molestation is to the other forms of child abuse. Sexual mistreatment can lead to physical, emotional and even mental abuse among children (Terry and Tallon 2013). Reasons children why child are abused Research indicate that there are numerous factors cause children being abused by their parents or other adults around them. Excessive use of drugs is one of the major causes of child abuse. Alcoholic parents are particularly the primary cause of distress among children. Alcoholic parents are commonly angry and careless. After getting drunk, they may release their anger and frustration by violently beating up family members among which is a child. Violent behavior physically affects a child and consequently affects the health of that kid. Alcoholic parents pose a number of psychological effects on children. A child may feel scared that his/her parent may become sick because of excessive drinking. These worries contribute to depressing that child. Alcoholic parents are mostly non-caring people. A child growing up with such parents may probably not receive adequate care that is fundamental for the correct growth of a child. Drug abusing parents are prone to domestic violence. Witnessing violence between parents may negatively affect the emotional state of a child (Crozier, Hopper and Kolk, 2013). External pressures are also a significant contribution to child abuse. Parents who undergo stress in external places for example in the workplace or business are often frustrated and agitated. Occasionally, these distressed parents may direct their anger and frustration to kids by physically beating them. Marital problems may lead to inappropriate sexual behaviors. Parents exhibiting these behaviors may opt to harass their children sexually. Lack of financial resources might also force a parent to neglect to provide certain needs to a child. A poor parent may choose not to give a child education. Another factor that may contribute to child abuse is the history of the parents. Some parents were either sexually or physically abused when they were children. Parents with a history of child abuse have been affected psychologically. These parents tend to think that physically or sexually abusing a child is acceptable in society because they underwent the same experience. Consequently, abused parents may resort to physically or sexually abusing their children (Iwaniec, Larkin & Higgins, 2006). Future consequences of child abuse Child abuse impacts are above the extent of scars and other physical injuries sustained during abuse. Child abuse has a number of adverse effects in the immediate and later lives of child maltreatment victims. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Child abuse contributed to the death of over 1500 children in the year 2011. Child abuse also significantly affects the growth and development of a child’s brain. This explains the reason child abuse victims perform poorly in school. Improper brain development among children is to causing psychological disturbances like anxiety and lack of sleep. The trauma caused by child abuse contributes to degrading the cognitive ability of children in their later lives. Deteriorating cognitive ability adversely affects how child abuse victims perform in their daily activities. Children who experience molestation at a tender age have a heightened possibility of contracting chronic diseases like heart disease and high blood pressure. According to Schneiderman, and Villagrana (2010), around 80% of child abuse victims exhibit psychological disorders. Victims of child abuse have a higher possibility of engaging in alcoholism and drug abuse. Some victims might even resort to abusing children in their later lives (Schneiderman and Villagrana 2010). Solutions and campaigns There is quite a number of answers put forth to help deal with child abuse. Laws have been devised to help protect children from manipulation and abuse. Most notably, The Child Abuse Protection and Care Act was created by the United States federal government in 1974 to help protect children from child molestation. People have also created campaigns that help create awareness and provide a platform for common people to fight child abuse. For instance, The Enough Abuse Campaign has been designed to help people speak up against child abuse. The campaign is currently operational in some states of America. These laws and campaigns contribute significantly to suppressing the number of cases of child abuse. Reference list Crozier, J., Hopper, J., & van der Kolk, B. A. (2013). Child abuse in America: prevalence and consequences. Iwaniec, D., Larkin, E., & Higgins, S. (2006). Research review: Risk and resilience in cases of emotional abuse. Child & Family Social Work, 11(1), 73-82. Schneiderman, J. U., & Villagrana, M. (2010). Meeting childrens mental and physical health needs in child welfare: The importance of caregivers. Social work in health care, 49(2), 91-108. Terry, K. J., & Tallon, J. (2013). Child sexual abuse: A review of the literature. US Department of Health and Human Services. (2013). Child maltreatment 2012. Read More