Child abuse is the maltreatment of children in the world. The abuse can be emotional, physical, or sexual. It can be an act of omission or commission that results in harm, potential for harm or threat of harm to a child (Lowry, 2006). Children have a right to be cared for by those responsible. The abuse can occur anywhere during the child’s interactions. Scholars have classified abuse into four categories.
One’s Perspective about Child Abuse
One does not tolerate child abuse of any form. It is wrong to hurt the children who are in the process of learning. It is also wrong to introduce adult issues and activities to children because their age does not allow them (Lowry, 2006).
A child is supposed to grow into an adult, and the development process includes mental and physical growth. Therefore, when someone starts teaching or forcing a child into sexual activities, he/she inflicts physical pain on the child. In fact, such acts are against the law. They lead to the physical satisfaction, though some people also gain from them financially. Sexual abuse is the use of force to sexually benefit from a minor. It also includes indecently exposing one’s genitals to a child or using a child to produce pornographic literature (Lowry, 2006).
Sexual abuse can cause guilt consciences, flashbacks, nightmares and a phobia for things associated with the abuse (Buckley, 2003). The resultant injury can cause sexual dysfunction and chronic pain. It can also lead to post-traumatic stress disorder, mental illnesses such as dissociative identity disorder, and propensity to re-victimization in adulthood.
The majority of the sexual abuse offenders know their victims well. They are relatives, babysitters, friends, and neighbors. Strangers take only a small percentage. Many of the people that make such wrongs are adolescents under the age of eighteen. This indicates that many of those close to the family of the victims are responsible for causing the problem. Family members should, therefore, watch their children keenly to protect them from abuse of any kind (Buckley, 2003).
Children undergo psychological problems due to abuse. The forms of abuse that cause such problems include unfair treatment, loud yelling, bad attitudes, harsh criticism and inattention. When an individual places humiliates a child, the child distances himself/herself from him/her. The victim may decide to fight back after internalizing the abusive words. They can also blame themselves or develop some overly passive behaviors. Children are, usually, students because they learn the environment and the people in it as they grow. It is inappropriate for any parent, caregiver or any other person to hurt them or make them internalize hatred and abusive words (Almond, 2006).
Some parents and guardians may fail to provide their children’s necessities such as clothing, food, education, shelter and medical attention. Negligence of any kind can threaten a child’s well being. It may lead to disorganized attachments. Some victims even end up failing to control their environment in foster or adoption cases while others get used to abuse and develop a self-reliant approach to their needs. Others may have difficulties in forming and maintaining relationships.
Physical abuse includes bruises, burns, lacerations, and rough treatment. There has to be a distinction between Child discipline and physical abuse. Although many nations have outlawed any form of corporal punishment, there are still disparities in the cultural norms about what constitutes corporal punishment. Some people still argue that some forms of disciplinary spanking must be allowed to correct indecent behaviors in a child. Many youth organizations differ with that view. They insist that one must not hurt or injure the integrity and dignity of a child (Watkins, 2009).
The Other Perspective about Child Abuse
Child abuse may not be the best word for children who have chosen to defend a course for their future. In case a nation is at war with another nation, some minors may opt to help the fighting army defend their rights and country. If they are fighting for a right course, that determines and secures their fruitful future, then that is not abuse.
Children from poor families and those whose parents or guardians are disabled may go out to do some jobs in order to get something to eat. Worse still, they may lack school fees. Eventually, they may earn some money, which they may use to pay school fees in order to continue with their studies. No one should classify such kind of work as child abuse.
Some cultural norms in many traditional societies require children to receive some strokes of the cane when they do something wrong. They believe that to remove childishness and stop some bad characters from developing, they need to use harsh mechanisms of administering discipline. Provided the disciplinary action constructs healthy behaviors in a child, this could be the best way for nurturing children whose conduct is questionable.
Discussion against Child Abuse
Child labor can be a consequence of forced circumstances. Many loving parents would not allow their children to work without a concrete reason (Almond, 2006). Some families may be so poor that they are not able to take their children to school for basic learning. Because of idleness and boredom, the children may find something reasonable to do. They could be jobs that keep them busy and out of dangerous behaviors despite paying them little money. One cannot label such a conduct as child abuse.
Not all children that go through the emotional trauma are affected negatively. Sometimes, the emotional problems show them how to handle greater challenges in the future. The physical corporal punishment has also helped some pass school exams due to the fear of failing and getting punished.
Conclusion
Many people cannot differentiate between what constitutes child abuse and what is not child abuse. As a result, they end up hurting children without knowing. People do not understand the national and international laws well. It seems most people value their traditional ways of life more than modern requirements.
It is important to respect children’s rights across the board. A child is an innocent being trying to learn and adapt to the environment. Therefore, parents and caregivers have the responsibility of nurturing them and bringing them up in a good way. They should also show them respect despite their age. Many adults that have lost track of their lives encountered their problems while growing up. The kind of life experiences they faced caused emotional trauma.
Some of the physical scars and disability cases happened to them while they were young. It is also important to say that a good number of parents and caregivers have managed to bring up their children in a decent way. As a result, they have matured into responsible individuals and respected parents.
References
Almond, L. (2006). Child abuse. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press. Web.
Buckley, H. (2003). Child protection work. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. Web.
Lowry, L. (2006). Gossamer. Boston [Mass.]: Houghton Mifflin. Web.
Watkins, H. (2009). Child abuse. Detroit: Greenhaven Press. Web.