How was your day? Did you enjoy the past twenty-four hours? Did you know that “more than 1100 cases of child abuse are reported every day”? If you do the math, that means that each year there are more than 400,000 cases of child abuse reported each year.

And those are just the reported cases.

It is no longer a question of whether child abuse affects society, it is now a question of how child abuse affects society. The next question is what we can do to stop this awful cycle. For now, however, let us stick to learning the affects of this heinous practice on our society.

Statistics

* Two of every three of those people convicted of first degree murder report that they have had a history of severe physical abuse in their childhood.

* Prostitutes, in many cases, report abuse, both physical and sexual, in their childhood.

* Juvenile delinquents doing hard time, in many cases, report that they have been seriously physically punished and assaulted in the home.

* Billions of dollars are spent every year on medicine, therapy, rehabilitation and more to counteract the effects of child abuse.

Definitions
Child abuse actually is broken down into four categories: neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse and emotional abuse. It is abuse when a ‘caregiver’ or person in authority over the child uses one of these categories to gain or demonstrate power over the child. This is not disciplining or constructive punishment. It is abuse.

Discussion
We can see from statistics that the epidemic of child abuse is a major issue that needs to be addressed from the level of family and on up to local governments.

Consider a child that is abused. This child has within herself the potential to be a leader; to excel at education; to have a family. When this child is abused, that potential is both poisoned and limited. Thus, this future leader becomes a drain on society; a victim rather than a solution. Sure, this does not happen in every case; indeed, we have seen incredibly corageous people find ways to rise above their situations and even help others do the same.

But we notice these stories because they are the exception. We laud these people because they overcome. The common result of child abuse is an adult who is not fully capable of functioning either in or outside of society. Thus, deviance is a further result, which often leads to criminal activity.

With increased criminal activity, we have a greater need for laws to be well enforced. Thus, we need more and better police and other law enforcement officials. Taxpayers’ money is spent on paying for these services, rather than being spent on educating, and thus providing a foundation for, our children.

Furthermore, prisons get more full; families have one or both parents absent; taxes go up; and government feels it has a mandate to expand.

So what are the effects of child abuse on society? To name every one of these effects would take far too much time. But how far reaching are these effects? These effects dim our future. That’s as far as we have. Our future shows up every day.

References:
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/publications/infores/clergy/chldabus.htm