Let’s start this article with the basics…
What does child abuse mean?
Child abuse includes:
• Hurting a child physically.
• Hurting a child emotionally or mentally (Criticizing, swearing, yelling, or threatening a child.)
• Neglecting a child (Not providing enough food, clothing, shelter, or security to a child.
• Sexually abusing a child.
How does it affect a child?
Child abuse can affect the Mental health of the victim and can cause mental issues like PTSD, anxiety, or depression.
It can also affect the Social life of the victim and can create problems like low self-esteem, social anxiety, and trouble making and maintaining relationships, which may affect their education, career or relationships.
Now, Let’s try explaining all of it to any Indian family. To our parents even…
They’ll be like, “Huh? Kuch Bhi?? Humare papa to maar-maar ke Aisa Kar dete they… Blah blah … Aur hum to thik hain.”
(Huh? Whatever? My dad used to beat the crap out of me… Blah blah… And I turned out fine.)
So Why is child abuse not taken as seriously as it should be in our culture?
Let’s not talk about Mental abuse. Because, In our culture, Mental health is a hoax, created by psychologists and therapists to get rich. Even though the very same psychologists look God alike to our parents when they claim to cure homosexuality… but that’s a topic for another debate.
Let’s just talk about Physical Child Abuse, because it’s the most common and most ignored type of abuse.
What does physical abuse mean?
Physical abuse of a child is, An adult (Parent or superior) hurting a child to cause physical pain. Could be by a slap, punch, hitting with a belt or stick, etc.
Yepppppp… just like your parents did.
“So…? What you mean is, my dad abused me? Come on, don’t be silly. It’s just, I was being a naughty kid and he punished me a little.”
If you’re thinking the same thing right now, Congratulations! You’ve finally realized how much we underestimate child abuse. We have been through it, we see it happening around us every day, and yet we don’t even acknowledge it.
We only take child abuse seriously when a child is abused in such a brutal manner that they end up getting hospitalized, having permanent damage to the body, or dead due to the abuse. Rest, Minor beating of a child is considered a necessity to fix them. No?
Why is that?
Well, as we all know, In our culture, elders are considered to be ‘Always Right’ (even when they aren’t) and if a child does something that goes against their ideologies, that act is declared wrong and thus parents have to take some necessary steps to fix their child’s attitude and rebellious behavior. Actions like beating the naughtiness and rebelliousness out of their child.
We respect our elders, a little too much that we don’t even find anything wrong with their actions. This “My elders are my Bhagwan” attitude is the reason why abuse against kids is only seen as a necessity to fix the kid and not a crime committed by an adult.
When we see a kid getting beaten up by a parent or caretaker we just assume that the kid must have done something wrong. Do we even think about the impacts it may have on the kid?
And it just doesn’t end here. Corporal Punishment at schools is yet to be discussed…
Corporal punishment means punishing someone to cause physical pain.
According to a study by The Women and Child Development Ministry of India 2007, more than 65% of children have faced corporal punishment by their teachers. And most of them agreed that it was necessary because teachers do it for their welfare.
In 2010, the government of India banned the use of corporal punishment in schools, daycares, and alternative childcare institutions, under the Right to Education Act (RTE). But yet, corporal punishment is still being practiced in almost every school in India. I mean how many of us haven’t been through it?
I remember in my school, teachers would slap students on the face or beat them with a stick, and surprisingly, our parents were very okay with it.
Not only does it violates the Right to Education Act for a child, but it also affects a child’s mental and physical health and development. Many children have even died, due to the brutal punishments committed by teachers.
How can we help?
Make sure you create a safe space for the kids who live with you. Make sure they’re safe at their home as well as their school. Discuss the effects of child abuse with your family, and in school meetings so not only parents but teachers take better steps as well.
Childhood is supposed to be free, away from worries and pain. If you have to supervise a kid, make sure you create a safe environment for them so they feel protected with you. Make sure you don’t fail as a parent or a teacher.