Child Abuse
Child abuse is defined by the attitudes and culture of a society. Even within a particular society attitudes towards children and the treatment of children vary enormously.
Discuss your understanding of the key issues relating to child maltreatment and the complexities of dealing with these in a public welfare context.
"The survival and successful rearing of the next generation is the quintessential task of humanity."(Korbin 1982, p256) Parents the world over are concerned with the same charge, to transform the helpless infant into a responsible adult, who obeys the rules of society. Parents the world over however, are also displaying inappropriate measures to secure this aim, using violence and force on children, often simply "just to teach them a lesson." Child maltreatment is a huge problem in our society, not just for the abused child and his family, but for society as a whole. Workers in child protection are faced with constant pressure from the community to alter the habits of the abuser and protect the child, but seem to have little effect in the rising tide of abuse. It would be beneficial for parents, workers and policy makers alike, to keep in mind the mandate of the United Nations' Declaration of the Rights of the Child that "Mankind owes to the child the best it has to give." (United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1386 (XIV), 1959)
Child abuse is not a new phenomenon, nor is it restricted to families in the Western world. Throughout history different cultures have permitted an array of insults to the young. Genital operations, beatings, abandonment, hands being cut or burned and even sacrifices have all been tolerated by communities. Our own culture sanctioned male genital operations, isolation of infants, babes waiting hours to be fed, and children left to cry themselves out. So although child training differs from one society to another, and the rules, and age at which conformity is expected to be learnt are...
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