WHY CHILDREN ARE ABUSED
(chapter 3 overview)
WHY CHILDREN ARE ABUSED
- Lack of transparency/reporting/language
- It’s Not a Crime to Abuse Your Child
- Cultural & Religion Keep Parental Rights over Children’s Rights
- *Children’s Issues Are a Political Football
- Institutional Sclerosis
LACK OF TRANSPARENCY & REPORTING
If it’s not reported,
it’s not known,
if it’s not known
it’s not a problem
if it’s not a problem,
there is no need for a solution.
Counties and Institutions hold information close.
This impacts what the media knows and what the public can know.
This lack of transparency results in
a dearth of accurate information.
Because of this,
Abused and neglected children
are at risk of more abuse
this time
by the community.
We the people don’t see child abuse for what it is.
Tens of millions of traumatized children
are growing up without being seen or heard.
At risk children have been easy to ignore and generational child abuse in America has grown exponentially because of it.
When we do see child death and horror stories we react with horror, blame and outrage. Because we know so little about the traumas of child abuse and it commonality, there is seldom a drive for meaningful change and the event is quickly forgotten. We don’t understand it and we don’t know what drives it or how to fix it.
LANGUAGE OF ABUSE
Child abuse is an uncomfortable topic.
We obfuscate and euphemize and avoid the conversation
Besides, it’s a “family matter”.
IT CAN BE A RADICAL STATEMENT
TO OBSERVE THE SIMPLE TRUTH
If America’s institutions (Child Protection/Law Enforcement/Child Protection/Foster Care/Healthcare/Education) operated like any other business,
There would be transparency and reporting of important stories and program success and failure.
IT’S NOT A CRIME TO ABUSE YOUR CHILD
Post COVID, religious organizations and arguments are winning 81% of oral arguments in front of the Roberts Supreme Court (to be published in the Supreme Court Review). This compares to 46% in 1969.
A similar shift in federal judiciary cases supporting constitutional protection of religion is happening at the same time.
Law, politics and religion have trended in favor of parental rights, punishment and discrimination against the poor and disenfranchised for several decades.
It is hard to ignore the continued national preference for parental rights superseding child rights and wellbeing at this time in our history.
Except in cases of “Imminent Harm” as defined by the judge, parental rights trump child rights and leave discipline and child well-being to the parent.
Not all courts view “Imminent Harm” in a way that favors the child. Rural communities less so.
These are not easy determinations and I do not envy judges required to take children from their mothers – under even the worst circumstances.
Ironically, violence against children has long been widely condemned and sentencing in child crimes is harsh unless you are the parent.
If your neighbor had beaten your four-year-old son with a thick branch or leather belt, leaving the boy bleeding and bruised or had sex with your young daughter, that person would go to jail.
Family child abusers are almost never charged in court with civil or criminal charges (acts that would put non-family members in prison if they had committed the same act against that child).
Read more KARA book 2 here
KARA Signature Video (4 minute)
COVID is Hammering Children’s Mental Health
