Society’s Most Innocent Victims
In America alone, each year more than 1,500,000 children suffer from some form of abuse. There are four different categories of child abuse: neglect; physical; emotional; sexual. Each of the different categories has unique causes, though some overlap such as poor parenting. The perpetrators of child abuse also vary from category to category, but, astonishingly, almost eighty percent of child abuse is acted out by birth parents. (Morales 1). Yet, when it comes to sexual abuse this is not the case. Where sexual abuse is concerned, “90% of the cases, are perpetrated by men. Sexual abuse is one form of abuse in which the majority of perpetrators are neither the mother nor the father, but, most often, a male adult who has an ongoing relationship with and access to a child” (Morales 1). This analysis will focus on one of the most complex categories, child sexual abuse. It is complex in terms of the causes, perpetrators and methods of prevention. It is also a complex social issue because it is global in scope and typically causes two extreme reactions, either denial or hysteria. Internet technology has also helped fuel the problem, creating a rapid exchange of child pornography through a vast international underground. After reviewing the methodology involved in this research, expert opinion on child abuse will be rendered followed by personal narrative, both designed to answer the following questions: What are the causes of child abuse? How does the abuser feel about his/her behavior? What can be done to prevent child abuse? A conclusion will address various aspects of the research analyzed in this report. This issue is very significant to the well-being of society, because today’s abused children are tomorrow’s adults. Because of the legal complexities involving laws, parents, social organizations and the complex psyche of the perpetrator, the chi
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