Sociological Perspective and Child Abuse - Essay Example

? Sociological Perspective and Child Abuse Child abuse sounds a common term in most parts of the world. Child abuse refers to infringement of basic rights of a child. The issue of child abuse has caused great confusions among members of the society with regard to governments’ desire to control and monitor every activity done on the child. Parents on the other have insisted on punishing their children as the most viable way of disciplinary action on the child. Governments and human rights body never recognizes the perceived disciplinary actions of parents. In fact, many cases have been presented to courts with convictions of child abuse. Upholding the topic of study, this paper will discuss the standing causes of child abuse in the current world and the subsequent effects on personal and societal levels. The paper will also discuss possible means by which child abuse can be faced out of the societies. Introduction The issue of child abuse is not an emerging phenomenon in the current world placing. It is worth noting that cases of child abuse have been existence for the past hundred centuries. Child abuse takes diverse dimensions and directions depending on the environment of occurrence and the contemporary factors behind the occurrence. Child abuse is part of the societal making and it equally affects the same society that results in its occurrence. Child abuse ranges from physical, emotional to psychological maltreatment. Most cases of child abuse are never accidental but happen in line with the knowledge of the abuser. Effects of child abuse ranges from the individual abused child to the abuser and eventually to the entire society where it occur. Sociologists and human rights commissions have intensified measures to wage expansive wars against child abuse. Child abuse ranges from physical, emotional to mental torture that deprives the victim child particular rights and freedoms. According to Williams (2009), most child abuse cases are results of poor parental and guardian care. Williams (2009) reports that some cases of child abuse are results of drunkard parents and guardians who tend to show little care and concern on the child’s development progress. Such caretakers usually do not bother tom determine whether the child got something to eat. Children under drunkard guardians are more likely to suffer emotional abuse due to high levels of hunger. In addition, some guardians are also selfish and would be uneasy to share whichever stuff with children near their surroundings. Failure to give food to a needy child constitutes part of emotional child abuse. Williams (2009) elucidates that impoverished living standards of some families leads to conditional child abuse. According to Williams (2009), most cases of child abuse are common among families that engage in farming activities. Most of parents practicing farming tend to ignore the need of educating their perceived bright children. William (2009) also describes a situation whereby a wealthy guardian fails to educate a needy child as part of child abuse. Parent’s age is one of the defined causes of child abuse in the societies. Teenage parents are likely to abuse their children considering their underdevelopment. Teenager parents lack experience to make prompt response to the needs of their children especially when they feel to have not met their own needs. Low levels of self-esteem among certain parents are among the causes of child abuse due to parental feelings of unworthiness. Such feelings may make the affected parent attempt to relieve their frustrations on the child. Another proved cause of child abuse in society’s link to the historical background of the parents. Researches unveil that parents who faced abuse in their childhood are more likely to practice thee mess on their children if never got rehabilitation. Reports indicate that parents with mental problems and depressions are more likely to neglect and abuse their young ones. It is also investigated that parents who have secret issues to enclose from the society may have little ties with the society thus unable to network with the society to obtain certain necessities for their children. Salus and Depanfilis (1992) reveal that some cause of child maltreatment lies on the child’s behavior particular unending cries that may trigger emotions of particular parents to punish their children. Salus and Depanfilis (1992) report that family conflicts especially marital disagreement between the parents may result to the development of particular factors that lead to maltreatment of child. In addition, Salus and Depanfilis (1992) disclose that poor societal relations that cherish negative behaviors while down pressing positive behaviors may lead to child abuse or related causes. Furthermore, Salus and Depanfilis (1992) unveil that poor parental relation with the child in early infantry could be one of the cause of child abuse. According to Salus and Depanfilis (1992), racism as in the American society may result into stress that may drive parents into abuse of their children. In the views of Saisan et al (2011), emotional child abuse can result from incessant belittling and humiliation of the child. Emotional child abuse can also be caused by continued insults and calling the child several names in line with comparing particular child to other deprived members of the society. In addition, Saisan et al (2011) confirms that frequent bullying and threats to the child are also potential causes of emotional child abuse. Furthermore, ignorance extended to little children and unreasonable rejection of a child can induce emotional abuse to the child. Moreover, show of limited physical parental-child contact can also result to emotional child abuse (Helpguide.org, 2011). In addition, emotional child abuse can be caused by exposing a child to violent organisms like pet and particular individuals who seem to be threat to the children. Saisan et al (2011) indicates that great stress and lack of support to single parents may lead to unintentional child abuse. Working parents suffer stress after accomplishing difficult jobs and, finds it uneasy to attend to the requirement of the child especially in cases where there are no family members. The effects of child abuse occur in number of ways including physical, psychological, behavioral, and societal effects. Child Welfare Information Gateway (2008) confirms that the effects of child abuse occur tend to occur subsequently. A child who underwent physical abuse is more prone to have particular body injuries and scars. Child Welfare Information Gateway (2008) indicates that severe physical child abuse may result into bone fractures, bleeding and even death of the victim. Child Welfare Information Gateway (2008) with reference to the research findings of National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well–Being (NSCAW), repots that one-quarter of children who got exposure to physical abuse for more that 12 months were likely to face recurring health problems in their maturity. Physical child abuse can also result into damaged brain of a growing child, which may impose psychological problems such as retard cognitive capabilities and emotional discomfort. Child Welfare Information Gateway (2008) discloses that certain children who underwent severe abuse while growing may end up smoking and at times become an alcoholic and drug addict. Child Welfare Information Gateway (2008) demonstrates that children who underwent shaking in their babyhood are likely to face bleeding of the eyes or brain and possible damage of the spinal cord and neck. Child Welfare Information Gateway (2008) further illustrates that child abuse and neglect leads to retard development and growth of the brain thereby resulting to abnormal functioning. Children with damaged brains are likely to suffer long term effects of cognitive problems, language recognition and poor academic performance. Child Welfare Information Gateway (2008) provides that most children who undergo severe physical abuse and neglect are likely to develop health complications like allergies, arthritis, asthma, high blood pressure, and ulcers upon attaining adulthood. According to Child Welfare Information Gateway (2008), neglected and abused child is likely to face isolation and unreasonable long-term fear. In addition, child abuse lowers the level of trust of the particular child even in adulthood. Furthermore, child abuse leads to retard self-esteem and problems of interrelation with various members of the society. Child Welfare Information Gateway (2008) exemplifies that most children who underwent through cases of abuse are likely to exhibit depression and eating disorders. Moreover, self-frustrations among children who underwent through abuse may lead some in committing suicides. Child Welfare Information Gateway (2008) adds that abused children are likely to develop unnecessary panic, stress, and reactive disorders. In reference to the reports of National Institute of justice, Child Weklfare.org (2008) illustrates that abused and neglected children are 11 times prone to criminal arrests in their juvenile age. Child Welfare Information Gateway (2008) further demonstrates that abused and neglected children are 2.7 times prone to arrests over violent crime acts in their adulthood. Child Welfare Information Gateway (2008) scrutinizes that children who are victims of child abuse are more likely to neglect and abuse their own children. Child Welfare Information Gateway (2008) discloses that child abuse also poses negative effects to the societies. According to Child Welfare Information Gateway (2008), child abuse and neglect tend to depict negative cost implications on the society in the move to provide welfare of the child and conduct investigation over alleged cases of child abuse. Cases concerning child abuse attract spending on judicial proceedings, law enforcement, and health issues that concern the child. In addition, child abuse spoils the development of the children thereby posing risks of low productivity of a nation due to unemployment and underemployment. Furthermore, child abuse lines down with increase in the costs of special education considering the fact that most victims of child abuse developmental problems. Moreover, child abuse sucks fund from the society into the spending of health care of the abused children thus leading to rise in the cost of medical services (Child Welfare.org, 2008). Protection of children from various types of abuses requires the participation of various governments and particular members of the societies. The government need tom create employment opportunities to absorb jobless parents and help to lower the stress levels that accrue to the parents. It is also fundamental measure for the governments to formulating laws that raises the minimum wage margin to help parents in meeting the family budgets without facing unnecessary stress. Prevention and amelioration of child abuse require the enforcement of stringent laws that prohibit child abuse in order to lower cases of abused children maltreating their children upon adulthood. The governments also need to formulate projects destined to educating and rehabilitating single parents on the ways to manage frustrations and avoid factors that could lead them to mistreating their children. It is sole responsibility of various societies to breed peace and good relations to provide good example and ample growing environment for children. Societies should also strategize measures to discourage teenage pregnancies that later results to child neglect and abuse due to lack of experience and selfness to cater for the utmost needs of a child. Child abuse caused by poor parental-infantry relation can be avoided by ensuring closeness of mother to her child. Governments also need to place strategic plans focused on raising and operating orphanages for rehabilitating and caring for the abused children. References Saisan, J. et al (2011). Child Abuse and Neglect: Recognizing and Preventing Child Abuse. Retrieved October 31, 2011 from http://helpguide.org/mental/child_abuse_physical_emotional_sexual_neglect.htm Child Welfare Information Gateway (2008). Long-Term Consequences of Child Abuse and neglect. Retrieved October 31, 2011 from http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/long_term_consequences.cfm#factors Depanfilis, D. & Salus, M. (1992).A Coordinated Response to Child Abuse and Neglect: A Basic Manual. Derby, PA: DIANE Publishing. William, D. (2009). What are the Causes of Child Abuse? Retrieved October 31, 2011 from http://www.abovehisshoulders.com/questions-about-child-abuse/what-are-the-causes-of-child-abuse/ Read More