NCJ Number
67072
Date Published
1976
Length
0 pages
Annotation
INTENDED FOR A GENERAL AUDIENCE, THIS FILM IDENTIFIES AND ILLUSTRATES THE SOCIAL NORMS THAT PROMOTE AND PERPETUATE THE PHENOMENON OF CHILD ABUSE IN OUR SOCIETY.
Abstract
A CHILD ABUSE SERVICES WORKER AT A CHILDREN'S ABUSE CENTER DISCUSSES THE FAMILIAR TENSIONS EXPERIENCED BY ALL MEMBERS OF OUR SOCIETY ASPIRING TO LIVE UP TO ITS VALUES. FOR SOME, AN UNFORTUNATE COMPOUNDING OF FAILURES RESULTS IN FRUSTRATIONS AND ANGERS THAT FIND EXPRESSION THROUGH VIOLENCE UPON THEIR CHILDREN. HIGH PARENTAL EXPECTATIONS IN CHILDHOOD, SEVERE CRITICISM, MISLEADING MATERIAL GOALS, AND WORK DISSATISFACTION CAUSE AND PERPETUATE LOW INDIVIDUAL SELF-ESTEEM. COMPETITIVENESS, THE FOUNDATION OF OUR SOCIETY, BREEDS DISREGARD FOR THE COMMON GOOD, ISOLATION, AND FEELINGS OF INADEQUACY THAT FIND AN OUTLET THROUGH MISPLACED ANGER AND ABUSE, CHANNELED DOWN TO SOMEONE LESS POWERFUL BY STATUS, RACE, SEX, OR AGE. THE DEFENSELESS CHILD IS VICTIMIZED AT THE VERY BOTTOM OF THIS POWER STRUCTURE. THE CHILDRENS' ABUSE CENTER WORKS FROM THIS PERSPECTIVE OF CHILD ABUSE AND ITS CAUSES. THE STAFF SERVES THE COMMUNITY BY HELPING ABUSING PARENTS REGAIN THEIR SELF-RESPECT. AS THE NARRATOR DISCUSSES THE ABOVE IDEAS, THE FILM SHOWS FAMILIAR SETTINGS OF HOMES, SCHOOLS, WORKPLACES, AND NEIGHBORHOODS, WITH PEOPLE IN EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES. (MRK)