Child Abuse

The debate on child abuse has remained contentious in the contemporary society. The increasing cases of children dying under controversial circumstances, exhibiting serious internal and external injuries are associated to abuse. Abnormal psychological development noticed among some children is an equally worrying trend. In that regard, significant scholarly research, political debate, and public outrage have been targeting child abuse. Such cases as juvenile deliquesce and full-blown criminals are associated with child abuse. In fact, various victims of child abuse suffer in the hands of close relatives, parents, and people in their immediate social environment (Jones, 2015). However, the negative effects of child abuse have remained the pillar on which appropriate remedy is attached. This essay therefore seeks to address the perpetrators, types of abuse, symptoms and effects of abuse on children.

It is painful to note that most cases of abuse are undertaken by the parents. Such cultures that associate discipline with spanking have had severe effects on the children (Leahy 2015). While some parents feel that spanking is a light punitive measure with prospects of better behavioral outcome among children, it actually instills fear. Individuals entrusted with child care such as au pair have applied physical shaking of children with subsequent brain damage, physical injury that cause death (Haberman 2015). As such the misconception of using shaking, spanking, and shouting as light disciplinary measures exposes the children to irreparable cognitive breakdown, physical pain and extreme cases, death. Hatred from parents that have conceived children under abusive circumstances such as rape has been noted as responsible for neglect and mistreatment that significantly affect the children (Lemoncelli 45).

Literature review indicates that there are various symptoms of child abuse. Spanking of children progressively instill fear, self-pity, and eventual meltdown. The psychological breakdown that victims of abuse experience manifests itself in various ways. In fact, the controversial shaken baby syndrome is one such outrageous manifestation of repeated abuse (Haberman 2015). The tenderness of the child’s body exposes it to triad in case of severe or repeated shaking. Brain damage, internal bleeding are extreme physical effects of child abuse. Sexual abuse on children damages their genitalia, inflict psychological insecurity and live with the children into adulthood. The observed withdrawal behavior is a symptom of silent abuse that sets a series of psychological inconsistencies.

The effects of child abuse are unlimited. Children exposed to physical beating, uncontrolled spanking, and shaking can end up suffering internal bleeding, breaking bones, diverse physical deformities and even death (Leahy 2015). It is such an inhuman and irresponsible act for a person in charge of a young life to inflict such unwarranted pain. Sexual abuse against young children has resulted into a larger size of psychopaths that resort to violence, murder, and other forms of heinous offenses in a bid to restore self-worth. Observed recidivism among offenders has shown close association with repeated bullying, mistreatment, and other forms of child abuse (Jones,2015). The future of victims of violence tends to turn out violent (Gould, 2017).  Some of the children that suffered neglect and abuse show deviant behavior which is made worse by incarceration instead of early remedial measures.

Child abuse is destructive to the society. The future of young people is condemned as their cognitive and psychological growth is retarded by abuse in the hands of people they innocently trust. Sexual violence meted on children live with them and significantly changes their view on such important issues as interpersonal relationships and personal growth (Gould, 2017). Physical deformities and death from child abuse is a total disrespect to the sanctity of life and the parental obligation. Restrictive legal measures, moral campaigns, and medical research need to be put in place to curb child abuse.

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Works Cited

1. Leahy, Meghan. "The overwhelming evidence against spanking." Washington Post, 5 Nov. 2015. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, db16.linccweb.org/login?url=http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A433736686/OVIC?u=lincclin_mdcc&xid=bed7a973. Accessed 15 July 2017.
2. Haberman, Clyde. "Shaken Baby Syndrome: A Diagnosis That Divides the Medical World." New York Times, 14 Sept. 2015, p. NA(L). Opposing Viewpoints in Context, db16.linccweb.org/login?url=http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A428512834/OVIC?u=
3. lincclin_mdcc&xid=93181dfc. Accessed 15 July 2017.
4. Jones, Abigail. "The Hunt for Child Sex Abusers Is Happening in the Wrong Places; When it comes to child abuse, fear everyone but the stranger." Newsweek, 3 July 2015. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, db16.linccweb.org/login?url=http://link.gale
5. group.com/apps/doc/A419368502/OVIC?u=lincclin_mdcc&xid=4f518fe2. Accessed 15 July 2017.
6. Gould, Chandre. "Today’s Child Abuse Creates Tomorrow’s Criminals." Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection, Gale, 2017. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, db16.linccweb.org/login?url=http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/VBHCKG100029537/OVIC?u=lincclin_mdcc&xid=10a24027. Accessed 15 July 2017. Originally published as "Why societies must protect children if they want fewer criminals," The Conversation, 15 Sept. 2016.
7. Lemoncelli, John J. Healing from Childhood Abuse: Understanding the Effects, Taking Control to Recover. Santa Barbara, Calif: Praeger, 2012. Print.