Child Abuse Is One Of Most
Harmful Crimes One Can Commit
I was watching the television the other day, and I ended up
crying for about a half an hour. I was watching a show about
child abuse and child predators, and my heart was broken. I
could not believe that there were people like that out there in
the world, and I couldn’t imagine why they would want to hurt
children like they do. The sexual predators got to me the most,
but the overwhelming number of people who commit child abuse was
hard to swallow. You almost expect there are a few out there,
but you just cringe over the huge number of those who purposely
hurt children. There are so many that you can bet many live
nearby.
Child abuse is something that happens in a lot more homes than
you might think. Though a child might seem normal on the
outside, there might be clues that lead you to believe that
there is child abuse going on. However, you should be careful
about turning people in on a hunch only. Some children naturally
are shy or withdrawn and it might not mean that there is child
abuse going on. On the other hand, if you witness what you would
consider to be abuse you should not hesitate to turn someone in.
The child is counting on you to say what they cannot.
The problem with proving child abuse is a tough one though.
Someone accused a babysitter of mind of child abuse. In the end,
they could not charge her with anything because there were no
bruises. I was abused myself when I was a child so it was a
double nightmare to me. I know better than anyone that not all
child abuse leaves bruises you can see. Emotional child abuse
can be just as damaging as physical, but it’s almost impossible
to prove.
Another problem is spouses that are separating often accuse each
other of child abuse in an effort to swing the custody hearings
in their favor. I don’t care how much you hate each other; this
should never, ever be done. False charges of child abuse can be
just as damage to a child as real abuse. In a way it is also
abuse. This should never happen to anyone, and it can mess up
lives rather quickly. If you are going to report abuse, only do
so if the abuse is real, but don’t wait until it is too late.
Sadly enough, one in every
three girls will experience sexual abuse before the age of
eighteen. One in every six boys will experience the same
traumatic event. What’s even sadder is that 75% of those victims
of sexual child abuse will not be reported. Those children who
become victims of child abuse will forever be affected by the
events that cannot be erased. The child abusers may never even
be punished or feel that they did anything wrong. Little do they
know that they have stolen something that is ever so precious to
a child – their youth and innocence.
There is no excuse for child abuse. Every parent has moments in
which they feel more frustrated and angry than ever before.
However, not all of them will lash out with physical violence.
The voice of reason takes over before a certain line is crossed.
Those who don’t think before they act may become the child
abusers even though they had no intentions. Most people don’t
wake up in the mornings and start their days off wondering how
many children they can hurt that today. The majority of child
abuse first occurs because someone loses control of their
emotions and actions. After they get away with it once, it could
end up becoming a never-ending pattern. Most victims of child
abuse will never reach out for help. If it is sexual child abuse
that it ongoing, even fewer victims will speak up. Most victims
feel that somehow it will be their fault. They fear what the
repercussions will be if they do come forward with accusations.
Nearly 2/3 of all victims of sexual abuse outside of the house
will not come forward to tell their parents. That means that
there are quite a few predators walking around free because they
got away with their crime.
Child abuse has to be one of the most harmful crimes that a
person can commit. Yet, society tends to sweep the child abuse
problem under the rug until something drastic happens to reveal
the problem. Suddenly, if something terrible happens and makes
headlines, society is completely tuned into the specific case.
For a while after that, everyone may be supportive of the victim
or the families. Once that passes, people will resume their
normal lives forgetting about how much of a problem child abuse
is. This is why child abuse is one of the most unreported crimes
in our country. All to often, people turn the other cheek.
If no one is looking out for our children, no one ever will. It
is time that we stand up and take notice. Don’t ignore the signs
anymore. If our children will be the future, we need to make
sure that they are raised in healthy and loving homes. Child
abuse can shatter all of that in one single moment.
