Child Abuse

Sadly enough, one in every three girls will be experienced sexual abuse before the age of eighteen. One in every six boys will experience the same traumatic event. What’s even sadder is that 75% of those victims of sexual child abuse will not be reported. Those children who become victims of child abuse will forever be affected by the events that cannot be erased. The child abusers may never even be punished or feel that they did anything wrong. Little do they know that they have stolen something that is ever so precious to a child – their youth and innocence.

There is no excuse for child abuse. Every parent has moments in which they feel more frustrated and angry than ever before. However, not all of them will lash out with physical violence. The voice of reason takes over before a certain line is crossed. Those who don’t think before they act may become the child abusers even though they had no intentions. Most people don’t wake up in the mornings and start their days off wondering how many children they can hurt that today. The majority of child abuse first occurs because someone loses control of their emotions and actions. After they get away with it once, it could end up becoming a never-ending pattern. Most victims of child abuse will never reach out for help. If it is sexual child abuse that it ongoing, even fewer victims will speak up. Most victims feel that somehow it will be their fault. They fear what the repercussions will be if they do come forward with accusations. Nearly 2/3 of all victims of sexual abuse outside of the house will not come forward to tell their parents. That means that there are quite a few predators walking around free because they got away with their crime.

Child abuse has to be one of the most harmful crimes that a person can commit. Yet, society tends to sweep the child abuse problem under the rug until something drastic happens to reveal the problem. Suddenly, if something terrible happens and makes headlines, society is completely tuned into the specific case. For a while after that, everyone may be supportive of the victim or the families. Once that passes, people will resume their normal lives forgetting about how much of a problem child abuse is. This is why child abuse is one of the most unreported crimes in our country. All to often, people turn the other cheek.

If no one is looking out for our children, no one ever will. It is time that we stand up and take notice. Don’t ignore the signs anymore. If our children will be the future, we need to make sure that they are raised in healthy and loving homes. Child abuse can shatter all of that in one single moment.