For this week I wrote on the article “The “Discovery” of Child Abuse”, by Stephen Pfohl. I chose this article because I found the title to be interesting. The subject of child abuse is ages old and a view upon it from an outdated article made it all the more appealing for me to examine. It has always been something that has gone unstated due to the social constraints of not interfering in the rearing of someone else’s children. It is not surprising to see that a 1970’s look at it would discuss the origin points of abuse and how it has come to people’ s attention more so throughout the years. Children are the future of the world and as such need to be treated like it. When you start to take a child down a dark path at an early age, there is
It is appalling to learn that parents would abuse their own children. The article sheds light on the number of children that suffer some from abuse either physically or emotionally. AD’s story is extremely expressive and demonstrates the long term effects of abuse that he suffered at such a young age. The author writes very clearly and honestly about educating the reader on a topic that should be taken seriously. The author of this article not only provides the reader statistics on the effects of child abuse, but also includes the case study of AD to further note the importance of this
Early life trauma has proven itself to be a significant issue towards the mental health community. It challenges young minds by having the ability to permanently alter their path of morality, and damage them in various unprecedented ways. This issue hasn’t been considered to be a major benefactive problem to the majority, in which people want to solve yet. There have been many attempts to change the way child abuse works, though it all leads to the opposition of public opinion today. Although it can’t be internationally banned, children should be informed that they can get help. A feasible solution would be to use the school system to pass along the knowledge, that it is okay for children to discuss privately about any abuse that might be occurring on at home. With this effort to help children the idea must be clear and competent for young minds, thorough in efforts to be harmless, and to be more involved towards the specificity of abuse among children.
Every day children around the world are being abused by their parents, trusted adult, caregiver and peers. Children are constantly suffering when there are things that everyone as a community can do help them. Psychologists, social workers and the victims to childhood abuse have studied and worked together to establish precautionary measures to execute child abuse all together.
Neglect and abuse towards children still occurs in society today as it did in pre-industrial times. Adult control over children can take the extreme form of physical neglect, or physical, sexual, or emotional abuse. Some may say due to figures from charities such as Child Line rising there is a ‘dark side’ to family life, where children are victims. This shows in some cases the status of children hasn’t changed over time.
By 1986 mostly every state required other professions that work with families, such as nurses, teachers, and school staff, to be mandated to report child abuse (Hines et al., 2013, p. 51). Since the book took place in the 1970’s neither the teachers nor the staff reported to child protective services (CPS). Instead of reporting to CPS about the bruises or the reason as to why David was stealing food the teacher discussed her concerns to the principal and he called to discuss the matter with the David’s mother. Of course the mother sounded very convincing in explaining David wanted attention. Over the years there was been prevention programs with the goal of improving parenting skill and knowledge. There are primary prevention programs that target the general population through media campaigns. The secondary prevention programs focus on the populations that are high risk for abusing their children the goal is to provide them with skills and knowledge to prevent abuse. The tertiary prevention program provides the appropriate interventions to ensure that the families who already experiences abuse won’t happen again (Hines et al., 2013, p.
Throughout this work I will relate to a case study. I will provide a definition of abuse using both sociological and psychological perspectives to contribute to our understanding of the causes of abuse. I will define the types, indicators, signs and symptoms of abuse and its impact on families and individuals, identifying factors relevant to the case study, recognising and explaining current legislation making reference to Government reports/inquiries and research into failures to protect from harm and abuse. I will consider the policies and procedures that my work place use and I will identify some statutory and voluntary agencies and their roles in supporting those affected by abuse, relating specifically to the abuse of children.
Day after day, the most common problem we hear and been shown through news on television and on newspaper is a child being victim of child abuse. In the novel Flowers For Algernon, written by Daniel Keyes, when a young child was 6 year old with mental disability name Charlie Gordon, meanwhile he hasn’t been a troublemaker but getting abuse without any explanation from his mother Rose, yet her explanation was that she only wanted her son to be normal like others at his age. Believe or not, years before, a relative of mine had been mistreated from its own parent and taken to a foster home. The main points is if you suspect a child being harmed, then how society think about child abuse, finally what’s the correct thing to do. When the abuse becomes harmful then it’s being investigate to improve the truth and the lie between a child and an adult.
Found all over the world, in every social economic class, child abuse is still present even though its terms and definitions have changed over the years. Child abuse is rarely reported by the kids or parents, but by responsible adults in authority over the victim. The poem “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke reflects the issue of child abuse, by portraying a young child’s attempt to normalize an abusive situation. Survival mechanisms used by children in abusive situations make discovery and treatment of abuse difficult. Abuse treatment demands early identification and reporting of possible victims. Education is the primary way to ensure effective, prompt reporting by required individuals. The law requires certain people to report potential abusive situations, but child abuse can and should be reported by any individual that suspects it. In order to reduce the statistic of child abuse, any person with authority over children must be educated and become proactive in reporting.
It may be argued that the notion of child abuse is socially constructed, in other words the definition changes over time and it may even be different from one culture/country to the next, it is ‘a product of a particular culture and context and not an absolutely unchanging phenomenon’ (Corby, 1993, p.39). For example, in the UK in the 1980’s there were four types of abuse, in 1988 there were five and in 1991 they were back to four. For example, work into child protection emerged in the 1960’s and so if this was the case Corby (1993) asks if child abuse did not exist before this or was it undiscovered? Corby (1993) speaks of ‘a conspiracy of silence’ as the NSPCC were reluctant to highlight cases of sexual abuse in the same manner as
“Abuse is still seriously under reported. I was told by leading British social worker that when they hold training courses for employees, they find that a third of the females and slightly less of the males come forward to talk about their childhood experiences of being abused. Over ninety percent of parents as some time hit their children – and some people hit them several times a week – so there is a great deal of emotional hurt, fear and physical pain in the world today” (Davis 251). For this reason alone it makes perfect sense why violent crime rates are so frighteningly high.
The authors help to inform reader as to why child abuse is such an important issue that needs to be taken care of. Funk and Wagnall list the forms of child abuse and the impacts they have a children’s lives. The article is organized in a straightforward style with little to no opinion involved. Although the article is solely based on facts, the authors stray away from making the article monotonous.
The purpose of this reaction paper is to examine the thoughts and feelings of the readings for the purpose of the interjection of opinion. Chapter twenty discusses the topic of child abuse and neglect internationally. The protective laws that have put into practice in diverse countries abroad that aid in the protection of children. Children are one of the most helpless demographic of individuals globally, the innocence and immaturity of children leave them vulnerable in society. This allows space for twisted individuals to impose on their human rights, and exploit their vulnerability. Parents, family member and caregivers as discussed in the chapter have taken advantage of children in all categories of manner. Everything from physical, sexual,
within this assignment I will be talking about the factors which could lead to suspicion of child maltreatment or abuse, different strategies and methods that are used in order to minimise the harm to children, young people and their families where and when the abuse is confirmed. I will also be talking about the responses where child maltreatment or abuse is suspected or confirmed relating to current legislations and policies.
Although child abuse has soon become a more discussed issue, it is nothing new in today’s society. Dating back to ancient times, physical child abuse has always attributed to lives of people around the world. Approaching and understanding child mistreatment has changed as societies have modernized and progressed; whereas one thing remains an unalterable issue, child abuse happens constantly and continuously worldwide.
In the nineteenth century, although society became a bit harsher on those who abused or neglected children and child welfare organizations mushroomed, child abuse and neglect were still not considered crimes (Hirschy, & Wilkinson, 2012). However, all through the twentieth century, the social perceptions of child abuse and neglect have shifted a great deal from something that was totally unacceptable to a demeanor that can no longer be allowed both in legal and social circles. But the criminalization of child abuse and neglect was only one step towards overall child wellbeing. There is still much more to be done to ensure that child maltreatment has been eradicated.