Child Abuse

Did you know that one in four female and one in nine male get sexually abused in their childhood? Almost everyday, a child is being neglected and taken advantage of. Child Abuse can really affect the behavior of a child as he or she grows. So, what is Child Abuse? Child Abuse is when a child is being neglected or abused. The abuse can be either physical or emotional. There are four types of Child Abuse: Neglect: A child is being ignored or is receiving little or no attention. (Example: A child lives with parents who do not speak to them very often. The parent is not involved in the child's school activity and does not interact with him/her very often. This  child is being neglect and ignored.) Emotional: Verbal attacks or actions that can impact a child's self esteem and self-worth. (Example: A child is emotionally abused when someone verbally attacks him/her. The adult or person may say such things as "I wish you were never born" or to an extent where the person is  using harsh language and tone.)  Physical: the use of force on a child which may often lead to injury on the body, ie hitting, slapping, pushing, choking, etc. (Example: A drunk guardian comes home every night and drinks a bottle of liquor. He becomes  drunk and has no recollection of his actions. The adult beats his child and she has bruises the  next day.) Sexual: forced sexual interaction on a child.  (Example: A girl is walking home from school and is attacked by a drunk stranger. He forces her into a position and rapes her on the street.) What are the causes of child abuse? Why would someone want to hurt a child? Not all child abuses are intended. There are many factors that can contribute to a person abusing a child. Some are: stress, personal history of being abused, alcohol and/or drug abuse, unemployment or divorce. How can I tell someone is being abused? Who gets abused anyways? Anyone can be abused. It doesn't matter what color or race you are. But, child abuse is more common in families. There are many ways to identify a child who's abused, but the signs can sometimes be mistaken. Here are some signs of abuse: PHYSICAL Unexplained injuries Problems in school Fear of adults Depression Self-destructive or suicidal behavior EMOTIONAL Depression Hostility Lack of concentration Eating Disorder SEXUAL seductiveness nightmares avoidance of things related to sexuality inappropriate interest in or knowledge of sexual acts Fear of particular person or family member NEGLECT Extreme hunger being dirty or unbathed lack of supervision How do I tell apart child abuse and discipline? Some people may be confused with the term discipline and child abuse. Child abuse is when the physical and emotional well-being of a child is being endangered or impaired. Discipline, on the hand, is used for training. It is a way for parents or guardians to teach a child appropriate behaviors and actions. Spanking is one of the most common used discipline. The definition of spanking is "..striking a child with an open hand on the buttocks or extremities with the intention of modifying behavior without causing physical injury." In more simple words, discipline is to help change unwanted behaviors but once the punishment becomes extreme, it can become abuse when a child have marks and prints on their body. Who can I call if I think I'm being abused of if I know of someone who's abused? Don't be afraid, tell an adult. There's many people who want to help. There are many services in San Francisco that provide help and support for abused victims. Visit our database and web resources for more information.