Write a short essay about child abuse and bullying. List and explain 10 factors, which may lead to abuse.

Many instances of abuse in England are undiscovered; however the ones which are registered exceeded 35,000. A figure shows that there are 37% of physical abuse, 30% of neglect, 28% of sexual abuse and 13% of emotional abuse. Some children fall into more than one category.

It is quite difficult to find out whether a child is being as the abuser may blackmail the child making the child scared to tell anyone what is happening to him/her. However, the warning signs of physical abuse are injuries, puzzling illnesses and frequent ‘accidents’ with no credible explanation. The warning signs of neglect could be children desperate for food; or with unsuitable, smelly or dirty clothes. Children exhibiting highly sexual behavior or expressing their anxiety by play-acting with dolls or physical changes in the genital area, such as bruising, bleeding or infection may be signs of sexual abuse.

Abused children may not want to go home after school, or may have self-destructive behavior, such as cutting themselves or aggressive attitude towards other children. All these abuses have effects on a child’s development, well-being and sense of acceptability which leads to an emotional abuse.

2. List and explain 10 factors, which may lead to abuse?

There are many factors which may lead to abuse.

• In all families there can be a time, when the parents experience financial difficulties. Some parents might find this to be a very difficult time, and to relieve their anger, they may abuse their own children. It can bring them some kind of self-satisfaction.

• In some cases, where parents are tight with the money and are having financial problems, they may blame their children, as this is all their fault, and they may wish, that they were never born. This is emotional abuse to the child.

• A person, who was abused themselves as a child may enjoy to wielding power over a more vulnerable person in later life. So if this person has his/her own child, then he may repeat what was done to him/her to his/her own child, who is scared of him/her.

• Young people, who became parents and are unsupported and overwhelmed by their responsibilities, as for example earning money and raising children may lead them to become easily frustrated; which can lead to abuse.

• Sometimes one parent may attack their children or step-children just because they want to have control over their partners and be in the lead.

• Some parents have no idea how to raise their children, so of the lack of experience, the children are being abused, by not having enough food, good hygiene or not being safe. This could be because the parents themselves had poor experiences as children.

• People who are addicted to alcohol, drugs or gambling could not see the needs of a child, which leads to child abuse. In similar case it could be that parents with learning difficulties may not understand the child’s basic needs.

• Some adults are convinced that children will not learn unless they are hit or criticized. They may believe that they will encourage child to be better.

• Some religious views, where for example blood transplant cannot be accepted for an ill child, may be considered as an abuse. The child cannot decide for himself and then he cannot get the necessary medical help.

• Even too much care of a child may lead to an abuse, as an over-protected child is unable to gain any sense of confidence or self-reliance, and his natural development is being post-poned.