Child Victimization

Child Victimization
 

Child Abuse

Personally, I firstly consider child abuse to be abuse in the form of physical pain. This is includes spanking. I understand that spanking is often seen as a punishment for bad behavior, however I truly believe that it enforces the idea that such punishment in a person’s later years as an adult is alright. Whereas it is not. If that person so happens to find themselves in an abusive relationship they may not be able to determine if what is being done to them is wrong simply because they may interpret the abuse as a means to correct a bad behavior. Also, I don’t think spanking should be allowed because I don’t think the objective of correcting an unfavorable behavior is achieved. I’ve always thought of spanking to only be the result of the frustration of the caregiver. In turn, spanking will only instill a fear in the child which could cause them to ultimately fear the caregiver and result in a fear of openly communicating with them as they grow because they are scared of a repercussion if the caregiver is not in agreement with them.

Punishment should become a public concern when a child shows signs of victimization. Turning up at school with bruises, sudden changes is personality, or even when the child is openly telling another adult that they are being mistreated. I do think that a parent should be chastised for punishing their children in public if that form of punishment is physical. An acceptable form of public punishment would be a firm word to gain control over their children. As I stated before, an unacceptable form of punishment would be in the form of a physical punishment.

Sexual Victimization: Child Pornography

For starters, the definition of child pornography in the state of Mississippi is as follows: "Child pornography" means visual depiction of a child engaged in actual or simulated sexual intercourse, deviate sexual intercourse, bestiality, masturbation, sadomasochistic abuse, or lewd exhibition of the genitals.” The prison sentencing for being in possession of or distributing child pornography is one that is lengthy and if convicted the offender must register as a sex offender.

 

Sexting

Sexting is when a person sends sexually explicit messages in the format of a text. This also includes sexually explicit images. I feel that sexting should be punished to a degree. It all really depends on whose sending the message to whom. For instance, if sexting were done between spouses as a way of expressing intimacy (of that nature), then there shouldn’t really be anything wrong with that. However, when dealing with teenagers sexting I do feel that they should be punished. They don’t have to be punished severely but it should be make very clear that what they are doing can come back to haunt them in the future and also lead them into dangerous circumstances if they are sexting with a stranger. Of course, in instances where there is a victim, the victim should not be punished.

Also, “the State of Mississippi does not a have a specific statute for sexting offenses. In general, anyone who takes creates, distributes or possesses an image of a minor engaged in a sexually explicit action may be prosecuted under the State’s child pornography laws and if convicted, will generally receive a prison sentence and need to register as a sex offender.”

News

I found this example of child abuse to be unusual. It isn’t the kind of child abuse so often represented. A majority of the time the term “child abuse” is immediately thought of to be solely physical or include neglect. In this particular instance, three individuals were caught working three separate meth labs spanning across Jackson County in Mississippi. Of the three subjects, one of the women actually stuffed several packages inside the diaper of a four month old baby. The woman, Amy Pressenos, was charged with child abuse.

 http://www.fox10tv.com/dpp/news/mississippi/suspect-sought-in-meth-investigation

How did the topic affect me?

Of all the topics we had to learn, read, and write about this semester for this class child victimization was by far the worst. However, it was the topic that I felt most passionate about. Truly, it troubled me the most because when you’re dealing with children being violated you really come to grips with the understanding that the victim is completely innocent and most likely is in no way able to escape or gain control of the situation. Out of all the types of victimization of humans, child victimization is by far the worst, the most repulsive, and the most evil.

Media
Both of the following videos are PSA's that acknowledge the truth and hurt behind child abuse. As heartbreaking as it is watch, I kind of wish more commercials like these two would aappear more often on TV, that way a child or another person may recognize and relate to the abuse being portrayed and realize that they can seek help and escape.