Child Abuse

Running Head: CHILD ABUSE 1

Running Head: CHILD ABUSE 2

Child Abuse

DeAnna Fleming

Grand Canyon University

Mary Carlisle

October 18, 2020

Social problems are factors that affect society negatively. Child abuse is a form of the social problem that is mistreatment or any behavior causing harm to any person below eighteen years old. A child can be abused in different ways, including; physical abuse, where a child is physically harmed, for instance, torture. Sexual abuse where the minor is being harassed sexually and child pornography, emotional abuse makes the child feel worthless and unloved by the family member rejection and criticism are forms of emotional abuse.

Child abused, to some extent, is being influenced by society in different aspects. Society is displayed in three main aspects; political aspects, economic aspects, and social-cultural aspects. Political aspects can contribute to child abuse, whereby the politicians may use minors for demonstration or addressing some grievances. The economic aspect can lead to child abuse when minors are subjected to work laboriously. This can lead the minor to develop some complications, for instance, retarded growth. Social-cultural aspect can also lead to child abuse; for instance, some communities promote child marriages. The law prohibits such marriages, which leads to psychological abuse of the child.

Karl Marx is the founder of the conflict perspective. This theory or perspective concentrates on the competition between groups in society over some resources. Conflict perspective positions social institutions and economic institutions as the cause of conflict between the competitive groups. Conflict in society is described in different ways and perspectives, first, between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat, between the bourgeoisie and bourgeoisie, or between the proletariat and proletariat. The conflict between the bourgeoisie is the most popular one where the haves suppressing the have not. The haves is fearing to lose their wealth and, at the same time, have not been trying to gain some wealth for survival. The proletariats have to meet their basic needs, including food, shelter, clothing, and education. Elderly, youth, and minors have to work regardless of the work. Youth and children might be subjected to heavy to work laboriously. Forced labor harms the minor physically and can lead to death.

The conflict perspective broadly describes how children are exposed to abuse. This perspective tries to illustrate how social groups in society try to reduce social inequalities. Children might be involved in prostitution as a way of earning a living. Minor is being sold as slaves hence earning some income for survival, hence subjecting them to forced labor. Girls are prone to early marriages as a way of minimizing the poverty level among families.

Survival for the fittest is a phrase that was generated by Charles Darwin. This phrase can be coined in conflict theory to explain how the proletariats struggle for survival and how the bourgeoisie is fit hence suppressing the have not hence developed a conflict. This theory views social institutions and the economic institution as a tool of inequality between having and have not. A social institution like school can lead to child abuse whereby a child might be punished in an inhumane way. Economic institutions can lead to child abuse. For instance, children are being used as a channel to conduct illegal businesses such as drug businesses. Children are used in this illegal business because minors can hardly be suspected as adults. Also, children are hired as house helpers hence are they very prone to child abuse such as child molestation.

Reference

Christian, C. W., Levin, A. V., & ABUSE, C. O. C. (2018). The eye examination in the evaluation of child abuse. Pediatrics, 142(2), e20181411.

Fisher-Owens, S. A., Lukefahr, J. L., Tate, A. R., American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect, & American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. (2017). Oral and dental aspects of child abuse and neglect. Pediatrics, 140(2), e20171487.

Zeanah, C. H., & Humphreys, K. L. (2018). Child abuse and neglect. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 57(9), 637-644.