Neglect: The Various Forms Of Child Abuse

Child abuse is doing something that can result in harm of a child. Child abuse can be physical, sexual, or emotional. (The Issue of Child Abuse)

Physical abuse a parent or guardian harming a child physically this includes: hitting- with a hand or any object, kicking, biting, shaking, throwing, stabbing, choking, punching, or beating. Although some may think otherwise, Physical discipline, such as spanking, is not considered abuse as long as it is reasonable and does not cause physical injury to the child Sexual abuses is when a parent or guardian touches a child’s genitals, rape, incest, indecent exposure, prostitution, or the production of pornographic materials. CAPTA (Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act) defined sexual abuse as, “The

This is the most difficult abuse to prove, and CPS (Child Protective Services) is often unable to interfere because of the lack of evidence. Neglect is another form of abuse. Neglect is when a parent or guardian fails to provide a child their basic needs. Forms of neglect are: Physical which is when the guardian fails to provide food or shelter, or supervision, Medical which is when the guardian fails to provide medical or mental treatment. Educational neglect is when the guardian fails to educate a child or meet a child’s special education needs. Emotional neglect is which is when the guardian fails to notice a child’s emotional needs, fails to provide mental care, or allowing the child to use alcohol or drugs ,

Most people do not understand how many children suffer from abuse. 62.8% of children suffer from neglect, 16.6% suffer from physical abuse, 9.3% suffer from sexual abuse, 7.1% suffer from emotional/mental abuse. (Child Abuse and Neglect Statistics) In 2012, state agencies found an estimated 686,000 victims of child maltreatment; this would pack 10 modern football stadiums. (Child Abuse Statistics & Facts) The United States loses between four and seven children every day to child abuse and neglect making the United States one of the worst records among industrialized nations. People do not understand the urgency of the problem at hand. A child who has been abused or neglected may experience a range of problems, such as relationship difficulties, lack of trust of adults, emotional outbursts (or retreat), low school performance, depression, anxiety, and anger. In Forest Gump, Jenny was abused by her father and as she grew older she deemed herself worthless. (Hanks) People also do not understand the consequences and what can happen to the adult when they abuse a child. A person charged with child abuse can face a number of penalties and punishments, depending on the state where the abuse took place, the child’s age, if the crime involved sexual abuse, if the child was physically or mentally injured, and the criminal history of the offender. (Reuters) They can suffer from a criminal record,