Child Abuse
By: Kelly Leonard
Child abuse = "No excuse"
I have decided to address this issue because children do not deserve to be beaten, assaulted, or sexually abused. People should be aware of this because children that are abused need to be taken away from their abusers. Draper's novel inspired me to share my feelings and facts because I would hate to live like that and I would hate to live in fear.
Angel is a little girl who lives with her mother and her "suppose to be" father. Angel's father is a mean abusive father that likes to beat Angel. He also likes to sexually abuse Angel. Gerold, Angel's half-brother, is trying to protect Angel. Angel has to hide the cuts and bruises on her body from her father. He secrectly sneaks in her roon at night when everyone else is asleep and abuses her. Gerold found out that Angel's father has been abusing her at night so Gerold broke her bed so she could start sleeping in his room and so he can keep an eye on her father. Gerold has also called the cops on her father. Angel's father died in a house fire that was meant for her. Angel is now safe away from her father and can now start to live and not be in fear.
Myth vs. Fact
Myths
- Only bad people abuse their children.
- Child abuse doesn't happen in "good" families.
- Most child abusers are strangers.
- Abused children always grow up to be abusers.
- Child abuse is rare.
- People abused as children became abusers.
- You can always spot a child molester.
- Children are resilient and bounce back from anything.
- It's only abuse if it's physical.
- My child would speak up if he or she were being abused.
Facts
- Approximately 5 children die every day because of child abuse.
- 1 out of 3 girls and 1 out of 5 boys will be sexually abused before they reach age 18.
- 90% of child sexual abuse victims know the perpetrator in some way.
- 68% are abused by a family member.
- Most children become victims of abuse and neglect at 18 months or younger.
- In 2010, 1,537 children died of abuse or neglect.
- 3.6 million cases of child abuse are reported every year in the U.S. And the number of children involved in these reports is 6 million.
- Abused and neglected children are 11 times more likely to engage in criminal behavior as an adult.
- 14% of all men and 36% of all women in prison were abused as children.
- Abused children are less likely to practice safe sex, putting them at greater risk for STDs. They're also 25% more likely to experience teen pregnancy.
In Lexington sex offenders have to be registered and that information can be shared to the public. They are also barred from living 1,000 feet close to schools, parks, playgrounds, and day care centers.
Child abuse and sex offenders is a growing problem in our community.