Child Abuse

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that the history of child abuse and neglect in the United States is characterized by a conflict between two missions: a child rescue orientation, emphasizing the removal of children from unfit homes; and the family support approach, focusing on improving the social and environmental factors that lead to parental stress and child maltreatment. The author points out that, until the Middle Ages, there was no concept of childhood in the minds of most adults in the West; until children were age six or seven, they were considered infants and non-persons who were often uncared for and unwanted. This paper states that, at the dawn of the 21st century, children are no longer adequately cared for, and there are strong indications of a general devaluation of children and child-rearing; children are once again living under conditions that threaten their emotional and physical health because of society's perception of children as non-persons.

Table of Contents
Introduction
A Historical Overview
Child Sexual Abuse
Differences in Perception of Childhood
Child Abuse throughout History
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Societies basically ignored child sexual abuse until after the "re-discovery" of child abuse in the early 1960s by Kempe and his colleagues. Kempe's construction of the "battered child syndrome" has been greatly expanded over the past three decades to include sexual abuse, emotional abuse and neglect. The increased growth of concern about child sexual abuse is greatly attributed to child advocates and the feminist movement."

More papers on Child Abuse:

• Term Paper # 145680 : "Using Communication to Prevent Child Abuse"
• Cause and Effect Essay # 88575 : "Psychological Implications of Child Abuse"
• Term Paper # 134249 : "Child Abuse and Neglect"
• Essay # 72123 : "Child Abuse And Policy"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: