Family Ties: Child Abuse in Modern America

 

Family Ties: Child Abuse in Modern America

(Op-Ed)

J.M. Rogers

. . .

 

When observing modern society, it is easy to see how times have changed from thirty years ago. Fast-paced electronics rest in the hands of bustling individuals, all of whom are integrated into the ever-growing network of technological citizens worldwide. And yet, in this age of solar cars and stem cells, the social interactions between family members are often fundamentally similar to previous generations. This similarity is primarily due to the fact that we tend to become what we are socialized to become. In ideal Westernized circumstances, children are groomed for a life of civic responsibility and personal prosperity. However, in this modern age of excess, inequality exists and has grown to proportions that hardly seem possible. This factor significantly affects the way in which children are socialized, and domestic/familial strife is handled. Moreover, while the middle and upper class of Americans may see a decline in domestic abuse rates, those who find themselves struggling below the poverty line are often left emotionally and physically frayed, resulting in the increased likelihood of impatience, agitation, and ultimately, retaliation.

        Child abuse has not gone away. According to statistics provided by the National Children's Alliance from 2015 (which is the most recent year this data was collected), over 683,000 children were officially reported as physically abused, sexually abused, or neglected. This number pales compared to the roughly 3.4 million cases investigated. No doubt, the investigated cases pale when surveyed against the actual incidents that occurred and were not reported. While sobering, these statistics can be extrapolated to even grimmer outcomes when considering the future issues that will plague these victims for the rest of their lives. As psychological studies are refined, the implications of childhood abuse become the elephant in the room. Stated simply: abused children become abused adults. They become what they are socialized to become. Furthermore, while a few million abused children might not seem like a major social issue to some, the recent upswell in violence among teenagers and young adults cannot be ignored. Whether as the result of neglect, violence, or some other form of abuse, these young people have become anti-citizens. Often, these same victims end up pursuing lives of crime, violence, or extremist beliefs that reinforce their societal deviance

        The United States has frequently been referred to as the "police" of the world. This title is applied, in part, because of the manner in which we pursue "morality" in seemingly immoral scenarios. However, the sobering reality for children in the United States is that the concept of "morality" is subjective, at best.  During the dependency stage of a child's life, child/children are often viewed as the parents' individual "property." However, what happens when that property loses value to its owner? Or when that property becomes an exacerbation of the issues that already keep a parent awake at night? Children in their formative (dependent) years are the most demanding of parental care, and unsurprisingly, it is the children in the age range of (0-12) that suffer abuses the most. A staggering 74% of all child abuse victims fall into this age group. The correlation between parental need and child abuse is highly evident when observing the macro-level data. This correlation can be extended, causally, to encompass the relationship between parental stress level and reactionary events, be they violent or neglecting in nature. These effects are not unchangeable, however. As has been seen across the globe, the proliferation of literacy and intellectual capacity has led many people to more diplomatic methods of handling issues. In a modernized country like the United States, it is deplorable to see so little funding for programs that aid in family wellness, stress management for parents, and abuse rehabilitation programs for victims who have been marred by events they were powerless to prevent.

        As of the writing of this piece, the year 2020 has already passed the halfway point. Nevertheless, the statistical data from the National Children's Alliance was last collected in 2015. While wellness programs and one-on-one counseling may be options for parents dealing with stress, no law requires them to seek out help, and moreover, many economically strained families simply cannot afford the monetary expenditure for proper therapy. This lack of assistance ultimately leads to frustration with life that is frequently quelled through drug use and emotional venting in the form of outbursts or neglect toward the members of society that are the least equipped to defend themselves either physically or legally. Until our nation starts taking child abuse seriously by offering affordable, or even free, programs such as family counseling, relief therapy for overstressed parents, behavioral rehabilitation for abused children, and proper parental training, the future generations of under-privileged children in this country will continue to suffer through the vicious cycles of abuse and neglect.