Child Abuse Thesis (Introduction) (1)

CHAPTER 1 Introduction

Background of the Study

Child abuse is a globally relative issue as this issue can be witnessed in families across the world. According to childhelp.org, “Child abuse is when a parent or caregiver, whether through action or failing to act, causes injury, death, emotional harm or risk of serious harm to a child.” Child abuse is more than bruises and broken bones. While physical abuse might be the most visible, other types of abuse, such as emotional abuse and neglect, also leave deep, lasting scars. The earlier abused children get help, the greater chance they have to heal and break the cycle – rather than prepare it. By learning about common signs of abuse and what you can do to intervene, you can make a huge difference in a child’s life. (Smith, 2016) Child abuse falls down to different categories, these categories are: emotional abuse; physical abuse; family violence; sexual abuse; and organized sexual abuse. (Adults Surviving Child Abuse, 2016) Under these categories the research will only be focusing on two (2) categories of child abuse which are: physical abuse and emotional abuse. As stated in the above statements, “Physical abuse might be the most visible, other types of abuse, such as emotional abuse and neglect, also leave deep, lasting scars.” The truth is that we give attention to only to those who are

physically hurt as they may appear damaged than those of emotionally victimized which is morally invalid, in fact, based on (Vachon DD, 2015) “Neglect may be as harmful as a slap to a child: emotional abuse has real consequences.” Emotional abuse refers to the psychological and social aspects of child abuse; it is the most common form of child abuse. Many parents are emotionally abusive without being violent or sexually abusive; however, emotional abuse invariably accompanies physical and sexual abuse. Some parents who are emotionally abusive parents practice forms of child-rearing that are orientated towards fulfilling their own needs and goals, rather than those of their children. Their parenting style may be characterized by overt aggression towards their children, including shouting and intimidation, or they may manipulate their children using more subtle means, such as emotional blackmail. Emotional abuse does not only occur in the home. Children can be emotionally abused by teachers and other adults in a position of power over the child. Children can also be emotionally abused by other children in the form of "bullying". Chronic emotional abuse in schools is a serious cause of harm to victimized children and warrants ongoing active intervention. (Adults Surviving Child Abuse, 2016) Physical abuse has been a normal aspect of domestic life in Australia for a long time. Physical assaults that would be serious criminal offenses if committed by one man against another - for instance, hitting, slapping, or striking with an object - have been legally and socially sanctioned when committed by a man

against his wife and child, or by parents against their children. Today, incidents of domestic violence committed against both women and children remain at epidemic proportions, although there is increasing recognition within the Australian community of the prevalence and harms of violence against women and children. Whilst community attitudes to violence against women and children have changed for the better, Australian policy-makers have failed to outlaw physical assaults against children by caregivers. According to the 2007 report of the Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment of Children, Australia is one of a number of countries that has failed to prohibit violence against children, and has failed to commit to legislative reform. In particular, the legal defenses of "reasonable correction" and "reasonable chastisement" are still available to adults who are charged with violent offenses against children in many jurisdictions. (Adults Surviving Child Abuse, 2016)

THESIS STATEMENT “Child abuse, either physical or emotional has a direct effect on child development.”

Bibliography Adults Surviving Child Abuse. (2016). ASCA. Retrieved from ASCA: http://www.asca.org.au/WHAT-WE-DO/Resources/General-Information/Types-ofchild-abuse O'Meara, Fedderson. (2016). Childhelp. Retrieved from Childhelp: https://www.childhelp.org/child-abuse/ Smith, S. (2016, March). Retrieved from www.helpguide.org/articles/abuse/childabuse-and-neglect.htm Vachon DD, K. R. (2015). Neglect May Be As Harmful As A Slap To A Child: Emotional Abuse Has Real Consequences. Retrieved from Medical Daily: http://www.medicaldaily.com/neglect-may-be-harmful-slap-child-emotional-abusehas-real-consequences-357164