Behind Closed Doors
“Almo "Almost five children die everyday as a result of child abuse. More than three out of four are under the age of 4” (“National Child Abuse Statistics”). The disheartening, rapid growth rate of child abuse in America continues to be a pressing issue at hand. The upward trend of child abuse will continue to escalade unless American citizens deal with the problem. In order for a change to take place, the voices of the innocent and vulnerable children in American need to be heard. Overcoming the atrocities of child abuse in America can begin to change through educating people on the root causes of this issue.
Many Many factors of a child’s family and upbringing can help determine the probability of a child being subject to abuse. Parents set the most influential example in a child’s life, yet, at the same time, unfit parents prove more detrimental than helpful. Children who are more likely to suffer from maltreatment often come from families with a single parent having minimal education, and where poverty, substance abuse, and domestic abuse exist (“Causes and Effects”). Often, children born into broken families cannot escape the cycle of heartache and abuse. Studies reveal that a child has a high risk of enduring abuse if he or she has a parent with a substance abuse problem. According to the Baltimore Police Department, “One in thirteen kids with a parent on drugs is physically abused regularly. (Drug and alcohol abuse in the family makes child abuse about twice as likely)” (www.baltimorecountymd.gov). Through these negative examples set by parents, children become more apt to follow in their parents’ footsteps.
Various components go into the process of recognizing child abuse. Abused children may have physical signs of maltreatment, such as unexplained cuts and bruises, and may have alarming behavioral and emotional issues. Usually a friend or someone close to the family notices the abuse, and, “Typically, neglect comes to light when a teacher reports a child who has poor hygiene and inappropriate clothing, appears listless, frequently complains of hunger, or frequently misses school without explanation. Neighbors may report a child being left unsupervised, or a health care provider may report that a child is missing appointments for medical care” (Mulryan et al. 52). If more people became aware of these warning signs and take on the responsibility to report it, less children may suffer from these horrific acts. People can see indicators of abuse in a child’s life through the behavior of children with other adults in society. Displayed signs of child maltreatment can show through a child not responding well in society, who, “…may be wary or cling to strange adults, and may become upset if another child begins to cry. An older child may seem fearful around his parents or other adults; his behavior can range from passive and withdrawn to aggressive” (Mulryan et al. 52). Children’s unusual behavior, if noticed by another adult, may help bring the issue into light and can assist in helping jumpstart the process of recovery. Evaluating children’s pattern of behavior becomes the initial step in helping end the vicious cycle.
The astounding statistics on child abuse and child fatality due to abuse proves troubling, and the American people should inform themselves about this issue. Although some instances of child abuse go unreported, the recorded cases show just a small glimpse of the magnitude of this problem. According to one report on child abuse, “…An estimated 1,760 US children died from abuse and neglect in 2004—up 35 percent form 2001” (“Congress Pressed to Act”). This dramatic increase of domestic abuse is even more troubling due to the fact that children are at stake. A study in 2007 shows that, “an estimated 794,000 children were determined to be victims of abuse or neglect. Among the children confirmed as victims…Children in the age group of birth to 1 year had the highest rate of victimization at 21.9 percent per 1,000 children of the same age group in the national population…” (“Child Maltreatment 2007”). The combination of an angry, ill-equipped parent and a vulnerable young child can often lead to tragedy. When stressed parents feel that they cannot handle a situation rationally, their top priority should always be to not take their anger out on their kids. When adults take on the role of becoming parents, they also need to realize the enormous amount of responsibility they must take on.
Not only can maltreatment temporarily harm the child, it can also negatively affect him or her down the road. Child abuse is not just a temporary issue, rather it sadly becomes a part of who the person is. According to a child abuse website, “Some other common psychological effects of child abuse are behavioral problems, attention problems, anxiety, alcohol abuse or drug abuse, bed-wetting, academic difficulties, concentration problems, and chronic sexual behaviors” (Jirage). The devastating long -term effects of child abuse can sometimes cause more harm to a person than the actual abuse. Children who suffered from abuse more frequently get into trouble with the law and in society. According to a study of 1,500 cases of child abuse, “Being abused or neglected as a child increases the likelihood of arrest as a juvenile by 59 percent, as an adult by 28 percent, and for a violent crime by 30 percent…” (“Long Term Issues”). Children born into broken families become more apt to hindering society. Although many young adults who suffered abuse are more prone to act out in negative ways, the choice remains up to the individual of whether or not to rise above challenges.
Young adults who grew up in an abusive home frequently repeat the same patterns and life-style of their parents. Many adults whose parent had a substance abuse addiction will also struggle with this due to emotional trauma. Drug and alcohol abuse can frequently spiral into abusive parents. Adults who suffered abuse as a child are far more likely to pass down abuse in the next generations, and, “Results from contingency tables show that those who were neglected in their childhood are 2.6 times more likely to neglect and 2.0 times more likely to physically abuse their children than those who were not” (Jinseok). Although breaking the generational cycle of child abuse proves difficult, the outcome ultimately provides restoration for families seeking to end such malice. According to a study, “Substantiated cases of adolescent maltreatment (against children ages 12-17) increased the odds of arrest, general and violent offending, and illicit drug use in young adulthood” (“Long Term Issues”). If the amount of child abuse decreased, the amount of substance abuse and delinquency would dramatically decrease also, because the amount of emotional trauma in people would also decrease. Each individual who has suffered abuse has the opportunity to change his or her life for the better if he or she so chooses. It only takes one adult family member to decide to choose a new and positive way of life.
The devastating concern of child abuse in America can no longer remain silent. Children in such instances of abuse are not in a position to help them selves, and, therefore the responsibility rests on the shoulders of the American people. The most important people in a child’s life consist of parents and teachers. Because children come into contact with their teachers on a daily basis, they have the ability to detect child abuse in its early stage. Along with parents, teachers need to help nurture young children and look out for their safety and well -being. When a teacher or an adult at school notices peculiar or disturbing behavior in a child, he or she has the responsibility to look further into the problem and seek help for the child if needed. Not only can teachers help detect abuse, but friends’ parents of the abused child can too. If an abused child gets together to play with another child after school one day and his or her behavior seems odd, it may spark questions from the friend’s parent. Although people tend to brush the warning sides aside and pretend as if no real problem exists, this tragedy continues to rise. Helping and protecting children in need is a crisis in this country that desperately needs more of. When the American people become more educated on this issue and know what to look for in children who may be abused, many more innocent lives will be spared.
