Understand gender dynamics in the context of India with respect to child abuse

1. Child abuse
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXH0kx8T9u8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8irFN7ayII

2. Introduction
• Child abuse is not just physical violence directed at a child.
• It is any form of maltreatment by an adult, which is violent or
threatening for the child.
• This includes neglect.
• When the children are abused by an adults on whom they are
dependent, such as day nursery workers, teachers and sports
coaches.

3. Definition
• Kempe and Kempe – have defined child abuse as ‘a condition having
to do with those who have been deliberately injured by physical
assault’.
• Burgess – child abuse refers to ‘any child who receives non-accidental
physical and psychological injury as a result of acts and omissions on
the part of his parents or guardians or employers’.
• The term ‘child abuse’ to ‘children who have received serious physical
injury caused willfully rather than by accident’.

4. Meaning
• Child abuse or child maltreatment is physical, sexual, and/or
psychological maltreatment or neglect of a child or children, especially
by a parent or a caregiver.
• Child abuse is when a parent or caregiver, whether through action or
failing to act, causes injury, death, emotional harm or risk of serious
harm to a child.

5. Types of child abuse
There are five general types of child abuse:
• Physical abuse: all forms of physical violence;
• Emotional or psychological abuse: an adult regularly berates the child, acts
in a dismissive and hostile manner towards the child or intentionally scares
the child.
• Physical neglect: the child does not receive the care and nurturing that it
needs.
• Emotional or psychological neglect: continuous lack of positive attention for
the child. Ignoring the child’s need for love, warmth and security. This
category also covers cases in which children are witnesses to violence
between their parents or caregivers.
• Sexual abuse: sexual contact which an adult forces upon a child.

6. Causes
• Isolation and lack of support — no family members, friends, partners or
community support to help with the demands of parenting.
• Stress — financial pressures, job worries, medical problems or caring for a
family member with a disability
• Unrealistic expectations — a lack of understanding about a child’s
developmental stages and behaviour.
• Intellectual disability or mental illness — parents may be unable to
adequately care for their child.
• Lack of parenting skills — parents may not know how to care for their child
or may believe it is acceptable to use excessive physical force to discipline
or punish a child.

7. Causes
• Drug, alcohol or gambling problems — addiction or substance abuse
may affect a parent’s ability to meet their child’s needs.
• Low self-confidence — parents may doubt their ability to meet their
child’s needs and find it hard asking for help.
• Past childhood experiences — parents may have experienced abuse
as a child in their own families, which could have caused them to
develop an insecure attachment style.
• Mental health problems.

8. Causes
• Domestic Violence
• Children who are part of households where there is frequent domestic
violence are prone to becoming victims of abuse themselves. Men who abuse
their female partners are responsible for abusing the children in their homes
too.
• Alcohol and Drug Abuse
• Parents who have a history of alcohol and drug abuse can be responsible for
child abuse. Dependence of substance abuse is one of the major causes of
child abuse and maltreatment which includes physical abuse and intentional
neglect. Alcohol or drug-abusing parent is more likely to initiate child abuse
with kids of five years or below.

9. Causes
• Untreated Mental Illness
• A parent’s untreated mental illness is a common cause of child abuse. Manic
depression or any other illness of the mind can become a prime cause for the
parents to be unavailable for the child. A mother may remain withdrawn from
her kids or in extreme cases suspect that the child plotting against her. A
parent’s suffering is often the cause of subjecting a child to abuse.
• Stress and Lack of Support
• Many children face psychological mistreatment when their caregivers or
parents are under stress. Parents find it difficult to deal with the emotional
needs of a child especially when they face stressful situations. Divorces,
relationship issues, financial worries and job-related problems can lead to
parents meting out abuse to their children.

10. Effects
• Child abuse and neglect often leave long-term scars on the child, ones
that are difficult to erase from the mind and the body too.
• It can have a massive impact on the way the child will manage
relationships during adulthood and can dent their self-confidence.
• Children are unable to function normally at school, college or work
when they grow up.

11. Effects
• Develop Trust Issues: It is very difficult for children to trust other people,
especially when their parents have been responsible for abuse. If one’s parents
can be trusted, who else can? An abused child may not be able to form strong
relationships nor maintain a healthy relationship.
• Unable to Express Emotions: Abused children are unable to vent their feelings
and emotions positively. This results in bottling up of emotions and may give way
to different psychological problems. Abused children often resort to alcohol or
drugs during adulthood to assuage the pain as they can suffer from anxiety and
depression.
• Feelings of Being Worthless: It is extremely difficult to overcome negative feelings
if one is constantly being berated or even beaten up. Abused children harbour
feelings of inferiority and being worthless and thus settle for lesser education and
low-paying jobs when they grow up. Similarly, sexually-abused children cannot
ignore the shamefulness of the act and the stigma attached to it.

12. Tips for Child’s Caregiver
• Give the child freedom to express his or her feelings without any fear.
• Build a strong support system of friends and family to support during
tough and challenging times.
• Be patient.
• Make sure your love for the child is expressed through words and
actions. Do not hesitate to hug the child to make him feel secure.
• Have open and honest discussions about drug and alcohol abuse,
smoking, sex and its dangers.

13. Preventive Measures
• One of the most important ways of stopping child abuse is to recognize its
signs in the first place. Children tend to suffer in silence hence it is
necessary to ask them to open up and share.
• Children often imitate the adults in their lives and if they have seen a
parent inflict abuse, they feel the behaviour is acceptable. Opt for therapy
and counselling for children who are vulnerable to abusive situations.
• Spread knowledge about child abuse in the neighbourhood or your town.
When people become aware of the harsh realities of abuse and neglect,
they will spread the word about it and this can stop a potentially abusive
situation.
• Educate children about ‘the good touch and the bad touch’.

14. Tips for Helping Abused Child
• On hearing or knowing about abuse of a child, make sure you respond
with urgency and care.
• Believe what the child has told you and do not repeat it to others
without reason.
• Never stop them from talking about it or make them feel guilty about it.
• Tell the child that he or she is now safe and you will take care of the
situation.

15. Thank you