NCJ Number
60833
Date Published
1978
Length
0 pages
Annotation
CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, AND THE BEATING OF TEENAGERS BY THEIR PARENTS ARE EXAMINED IN THIS AUDIOCASSETTE AND FILM STRIP UNIT FOR TEACHERS.
Abstract
FOR MILLIONS OF CHILDREN, THE AMERICAN DREAM OF A HAPPY HOME HAS BECOME A NIGHTMARE OF PAIN AND BRUTALITY. OVER FIVE MILLION CHILDREN ARE ESTIMATED TO BE NEGLECTED IN THE UNITED STATES. THIS NEGLECT MAY INVOLVE INSUFFICIENT NUTRITION, SHELTER, OR EDUCATION. AT LEAST 4,000 CHILDREN DIE EACH YEAR, MOST OF THEM UNDER THE AGE OF FIVE. THE CAUSES OF EXTREME ABUSE ARE NOT FULLY UNDERSTOOD, BUT SOME CHARACTERISTICS TYPIFY ABUSING PARENTS. SUCH PARENTS ARE IMMATURE, UNSURE OF THEMSELVES, FRUSTRATED BY THEIR OWN SENSE OF INADEQUACY, AND WERE THEMSELVES VICTIMS OF CHILD ABUSE. HAVING BEEN DEPRIVED BY THEIR OWN PARENTS OF THE SUPPORT THAT WOULD HAVE HELPED THEM BECOME MATURE, THEY RESENT THE DEMANDS OF THEIR YOUNG CHILDREN. WHEN CRISES CONFRONT THE FAMILY, THE IMMATURE PARENT STRIKES OUT AT A TARGET OF CONVENIENCE, SUCH AS THE CHILD WHO WON'T BE ABLE TO STRIKE BACK. UNLESS THE CHILD'S INJURIES ARE SEVERE ENOUGH TO ATTRACT THE ATTENTION OF NEIGHBORS OR SOCIAL AGENCIES, THE ABUSE GENERALLY CONTINUES. MORE THAN A MILLION TEENAGERS ARE ALSO ABUSED EACH YEAR, WITH THE ABUSE GENERALLY IGNORED BY A SOCIETY WHICH CONSIDERS THEM AS REQUIRING STERN DISCIPLINE DURING ADOLESCENCE. BETWEEN FATHERS AND DAUGHTERS, THE VIOLENCE COULD BE THE RESULT OF AN INCESTUOUS RELATIONSHIP WHICH THE FATHER FEELS HAS BEEN BETRAYED. A CYCLE OF GENERATIONS OF CHILD ABUSERS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL HELP IS ACCEPTED. (TWK)