Ritualistic Ritual Abuse

Sexual abuse can be hard to define because of the many different forms it can take on, the different levels of frequency, the variation of circumstances that can occur. Until a child is fit to function as a self-supporting and informed adult, we have an obligation not to take advantage of their lack of power or protection to inflict damage, or demand submission to acts that are not in their own best interests within. Children are being abused every day in different countries. While commonly accepted wisdom had been that childhood sexual abuse results in long lasting negative outcomes.

The term child abuse was once as rarely heard as that of pink elephants. However rare the term has once been, it is now a term used consistently throughout the news and various other publications today. Along with the progressing decline in society's morals, has come the rapid increase of crime. One such crime is child abuse. Although child abuse is common, the act is defiling. As a result of the abuse, children who fall victim to this often need psychological treatment and counseling. Often, the child is never the same as he or she once was before. The dictionary defines child abuse as: "the physical, or emotional, or sexual mistreatment of children" (Dictionary.com). Everyday thousands of children are the victims of this abuse.

One of the most perverse traumas experienced by children is sexual abuse. Sexual abuse is an unfortunate reality for many children all over the world. Most

Children can be victims of different types of maltreatment such as neglect, medical abuse, physical abuse and sexual abuse (Maschi, Bradley, & Ward, 2009). “On average, nationally, there is a report of child maltreatment every 5 seconds, and child maltreatment is substantiated every

213). Physical abuse is the most common type of child maltreatment. Boys and girls are about equally likely to be physically abused. Physical abuse include: hitting, kicking, shaking, throwing, burning, stabbing or shocking the child (Downs, Moore and McFaden, 2009, pg. 211). Lastly, according to Downs, Moore and McFadden sexual abuse is an “act of a person, adult or child, which forces, coerces, or threatens a child to have any form of sexual contact or to engage in any type of sexual activity at the perpetrator’s direction” (2009,p214). The terms of “sexual abuse” encompasses a wide range of behaviors which are the follow: fondling, making a child touch an adult’s sexual organs and penetrating a child’s vagina or anus (Downs, Moore and McFaden, 2009, p.214). Among the abuses Antwone was subjected to, he was a victim of repeated sexual abuse. He did not receive adequate supervision and he was always hoping that someone would find out and stop the abuse.

Forms of abuse Trauma can be classified as different types of abuse. One of the most common forms of abuse is known as physical abuse, which has been defined as causing and/or allowing any non accidental physical injury. Sexual abuse, which is common in children is defined as any sexual activity, practice or instruction which either meets the criminal definition or is unhealthy for a child considering his/her age and level of development. Going on to psychological abuse, which is refering to any such acts as intentional humiliation, causing emotional conflict, or acting is a way that could be psychologically damaging to the child. Examples of this abuse include the denial of basic human civil rights such as self expression, choice and even withdrawal of affection.

When most people think of “child abuse”, the disturbing news stories of young girls being raped or sexually exploited come to mind but that’s not the only side of it. People seem to only consider physical abuse armful when emotional and mental abuse is just as bad, if not worse.

Physical abuse is intentionally inflicting pain onto a child as well as the failure to prevent or stop injury or suffering. For example, burning, scalding, suffocating, kicking and drowning all forms of physical abuse. There are many indicators of physical abuse which I have detailed in Appendix A.

Child maltreatment has been a serious public health problem not just in the United States but globally. Maltreatment is defined as neglect which means failure to provide for a child’s basic physical, educational, or psychological needs. Physical abuse such as causing physical harm, sexual abuse, abuse that includes fondling a child’s genitals or breasts, and psychological abuse, such as verbal put-downs and other behavior that terrorizes, threatens, rejects or isolates the child. “According to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS), in 2007 approximately 794,000 children (10.6 per 1,000 children of all ages) were identified as victims of child abuse or neglect. Approximately one-half (46.1%) of all victims were non-Hispanic white, 21.7% were African American, and 20.8% were Hispanic. One-third (31.9%) were under the age of 4 years.” (Gross, 2010)

The fifth form of abuse is spiritual violence. “Spiritual or religious violence occurs when someone uses a person’s spiritual beliefs to manipulate, dominate, or control the person.” (Page 1) While this may not seem like it would be that harmful it is. They are making the person

Family violence is always disheartening. Childhood sexual abuse is by far the worse. There are many forms of childhood sexual abuse. The sexual abuse can involve seduction by a beloved relative or it can be a violent act committed by a stranger. Childhood sexual trauma causes psychological, interpersonal, and behavioral. This paper will show a first account of the impact of childhood trauma.

There are many things in our society today that unfortunately go overlooked. One such thing that is overlooked is the number of children who are being abused. Unfortunately these children are going through life not knowing whether or not their parents will loose their temper and perhaps kill them. There are many types of child abuse, such as physical, sexual, and emotional. Physical abuse is physical injury as a result of punching, beating, kicking, biting, shaking, throwing, stabbing, choking, hitting, burning, or otherwise harming a child. Such injury is considered abuse regardless of whether the caretaker intended to hurt the child. Sexual abuse includes activities by a parent or caretaker such as fondling a child's genitals,

Garbarino, L., & Bedard, C. (1996). Spiritual challenges to children facing violent trauma. Childhood, 3(4), 467-478. doi:10.1177/0907568296003004004

1. Children along with parents and teachers should be educated about ritualistic abuse. Information about what ritualistic abuse is, signs of ritualistic abuse, the effects of ritualistic, and who to talk to should be taught to children. Signs of ritualistic abuse are strange sexual behavior or beliefs, bowel movement problems, a fear of enclosed space, and a belief in the supernatural. Physical signs of ritualistic abuse can be cuts, burns, sleep deprivation, and branding. Sexual abuse is common form of ritualistic. Sexual abuse can be sex with other children, group sex, sex with animals, and sex with the same gender. The last type of ritualistic abuse is psychological abuse. Psychological abuse includes isolation, being forced to stay

Saradjian, A., & Nobus, D. (2003). Cognitive distortions of religious professionals who sexually abuse children. Journal of interpersonal violence, 18(8), 905-923.