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Chapter 1 Summary

English Report

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
96 views4 pages

Chapter 1 Summary

English Report

Uploaded by

Janet Kilel
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Chapter 1 Summary: The Maltreatment of Children from a Historical Perspective

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Chapter 1 Summary: The Maltreatment of Children from a Historical Perspective

Chapter 1 of "Understanding Child Abuse and Neglect" by Cynthia Crosson-Tower

explores child maltreatment and the historical way it was perceived. It examines the evolution of

society's comprehension and response to matters of child abuse and neglect throughout history

while highlighting the key concepts and events that have shaped the issue. The chapter begins by

acknowledging that child abuse and neglect have existed throughout history, even though the

terminology and understanding of these issues have evolved. The chapter discusses the

maltreatment of children throughout history, including perceiving children as owned like

property and the complexity of life and death. It also covers the reporting of child maltreatment,

training, research funding and provisions for the handling of child neglect and abuse under the

Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (Crosson-Tower, 2014). It emphasizes the

importance of examining the historical context to comprehend the current understanding and

response to child maltreatment.

The author explains how childhood emerged during the Middle Ages and how the

Puritans in America viewed children as inherently sinful and needing strict discipline. The

ancient practice of infanticide was used to eliminate unwanted children. The 19th and 20th

centuries led to the increase of child labor due to the industrial revolution and urbanization.

Children were forced to work for long hours in unconducive conditions for little pay. The chapter

also discusses corporal punishment, once considered an acceptable form of discipline (Crosson-

Tower, 2014). The author explains that many religious texts, including the Bible, were used to

justify corporal punishment. The influence of religious institutions contributed to and shaped

societal attitudes towards children and how they were treated.


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The chapter also discusses the concept of children as property. Most cultures emphasized

and perpetuated children to be seen as a belonging of their parents and they were subject to trade

or sale like any other commodity. The perception of children as property contributed to the

widespread abuse and neglect of children throughout history. In the early USA, the arrival of

immigrants from Europe and enslaved Africans spurred economic growth. The children of the

enslaved worked alongside their parents in allegiance to and property of the enslavers (Crosson-

Tower, 2014). The Pacific Islands and Asian immigrants arrived in the USA with different

values about dependent children as the family became involved in caring for the children from

birth to death. Native American children were perceived as the community's responsibility, while

Hispanic children relied on family and friends for parental nurturance.

The issue of child dependency was perceived as children depending on adults for their

basic needs making them to be vulnerable to child neglect and abuse. The chapter notes that

neglected or abused children often suffer from physical, emotional, and cognitive problems that

can persist throughout their childhood into adulthood (Crosson-Tower, 2014). The chapter

concludes with an overview of functional and dysfunctional families. The author notes that

healthy families provide children with a safe and nurturing environment, while dysfunctional

families can contribute to the maltreatment of children. The chapter strikes a contrast between

children who have healthy development and those whose development are hindered by abuse.

Chapter 1 of Understanding Child Abuse and Neglect gives a detailed overview of the

historical perspective of child maltreatment. The chapter highlights the various forms of

maltreatment that have occurred throughout history, and provides insight into the factors that

contribute to the maltreatment of children. The chapter also emphasizes the importance of

healthy families in promoting the well-being of children.


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References

Crosson-Tower, C. (2014). Understanding child abuse and neglect. Pearson Education.

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