Multicultural literature
Child Abuse
Ever wonder why the society has so much crime inhabiting it, simply living off the pain from others? If yelling and hitting a child is used as a punishment, then how do you know when you’ve gone too far? Every time a child is hit, it makes the child even more eligible to become tomorrow’s criminal. With every scream, every put down, every hit and every inappropriate touch, the child is more likely to have a less successful life as an adult. This is child abuse and it’s staring us in the face as a problem we can lessen just by paying attention to it.
The physical injury or ill-treatment of a child under the age of eighteen by a person who is responsible for the child’s wellbeing under circumstances which indicate that the child’s health or wellbeing is harmed or threatened thereby is the definition of child physical abuse, defined by The National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect (Newton). Alone, the effects of child abuse on a child are far more than anyone could imagine. There are over forty effects that can be caused by physical child abuse, such as social withdrawal, substance abuse, learning problems, eating disorders, depression and many worse that can also led up to suicide attempts or suicide itself (Newton). Not only do the children have effects from the abuse, but it can also follow the child to their adulthood. Leaving the adult with problems such as abuse of their own children, depression, obesity, gastrointestinal distress or symptoms and much more as well (Newton). Physical abuse is easier to see than any other abuse there is. Signs of physical abuse include bruises or welts shaped like an object for example a belt, layers of different colored bruises in the same general area, small round burns from cigarettes. Burns in the shape of an object like an iron and such, rope burns on ankles, wrists, or torso and also suspicious fractures. (Facts About…)
“The safest environment for a child (that is,
Cited: BJS: Bureau of Justice Statistics “Sexual Assault of Young Children as Reported to Law Enforcement: Victim, Incident, and Offender Characteristics” July 11, 2000. CMRPI “An Ongoing Sex Drive Directed Toward Children” 2009. “Facts About Child Abuse” March 29, 2007. Faulkner, N. “Child Victims: Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS)” December 31, 2008. Hurley, Jennifer. “Child Abuse: Opposing Viewpoints” Greenhaven Press, Inc.: David L. Bender, 1999 Newton, C.J. “Child Abuse: An Overview” April 2001. US Department of Justice Reports “National Child Abuse Statistics” 2006. Winters, Paul A. “Child Sexual Abuse” Greenhaven Press, Inc.: David Bender, 1998