Ashanti’ Williams
English IV
The Effects of Child Abuse
Child abuse is defined as the physical, emotional or sexual mistreatment of children. It can also be defined as harmful or offensive contact with a child that may or may not frighten them or humiliate them. Any child, no matter what age, sex, race, or economic background, can become a victim of child abuse. Some types of child abuse are physical, mental, emotional, and neglect. Over the years child abuse has had a terrible effect on many people physically, mentally, and emotionally. This abuse is usually based on the characteristics of the parents such as age, socioeconomic status, and race.
Child abuse has been around and expanded throughout history, in all cultures and ethnic backgrounds, in every form. Unfortunately throughout history children were considered property; therefore, parents had the unlimited ability to do anything they felt was necessary (History of Child Abuse 1). In the past, fathers made all the disciplinary decisions. They had the right to sell, kill, hurt, sacrifice and anything else they felt was appropriate to do to a child. In ancient Rome fathers used their power to do those things if a child was born disabled or that was not considered normal in their eyes (History of Child Abuse 1).
In the 1960’s physical child abuse and child neglect were first acknowledged through radiology. Another decade had gone by before sexual child abuse had been recognized and it took until the 1980’s and 1990’s for emotional child abuse to be acknowledged (History of Child Abuse 3). Unfortunately child abuse is an American epidemic. It is not just in history alone but today child abuse continues in alarming numbers. In 2005 alone, more than 3.5 million children were reported as victims of child abuse (Child Abuse Facts 1). Child abuse kills more children in America than accidental falls, choking on food, suffocation, or even fires in their homes. Often times the youngest children are the most... [continues]
English IV
The Effects of Child Abuse
Child abuse is defined as the physical, emotional or sexual mistreatment of children. It can also be defined as harmful or offensive contact with a child that may or may not frighten them or humiliate them. Any child, no matter what age, sex, race, or economic background, can become a victim of child abuse. Some types of child abuse are physical, mental, emotional, and neglect. Over the years child abuse has had a terrible effect on many people physically, mentally, and emotionally. This abuse is usually based on the characteristics of the parents such as age, socioeconomic status, and race.
Child abuse has been around and expanded throughout history, in all cultures and ethnic backgrounds, in every form. Unfortunately throughout history children were considered property; therefore, parents had the unlimited ability to do anything they felt was necessary (History of Child Abuse 1). In the past, fathers made all the disciplinary decisions. They had the right to sell, kill, hurt, sacrifice and anything else they felt was appropriate to do to a child. In ancient Rome fathers used their power to do those things if a child was born disabled or that was not considered normal in their eyes (History of Child Abuse 1).
In the 1960’s physical child abuse and child neglect were first acknowledged through radiology. Another decade had gone by before sexual child abuse had been recognized and it took until the 1980’s and 1990’s for emotional child abuse to be acknowledged (History of Child Abuse 3). Unfortunately child abuse is an American epidemic. It is not just in history alone but today child abuse continues in alarming numbers. In 2005 alone, more than 3.5 million children were reported as victims of child abuse (Child Abuse Facts 1). Child abuse kills more children in America than accidental falls, choking on food, suffocation, or even fires in their homes. Often times the youngest children are the most... [continues]
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