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Introduction
Children are a unique group in society, treated differently depending on the context and location. Often being considered humans in their “incomplete” or “immature” state, children are significantly different from adults in their biology, behavior and needs. They are less capable of adequately responding to danger, they are frailer and more susceptible to both injury and disease (“How are children different from adults?” 2020). Children are granted certain rights and protections in order to help them grow up into well-adjusted members of society (“What are children’s rights?”). However, the way that kids are viewed and treated is often contradictory in its nature, especially when the individuals in question are under special circumstances. Marginalized children, those that have come under influence of abuse, found themselves displaced or lost a home may be presented differently in society. The key point of understanding marginalized children is through the lens of a victim or a threat. The circumstances surrounding a child, their capabilities, and the need to assist them on a systematic level largely varies depending on whether they are seen as life’s “victims” or unruly dangers to public order.
The duality of children’s position in the public perception informs different ways the kids are treated, and their ability to receive help. Oftentimes, the criminalization and vilification of kids can obstruct genuine efforts of helping marginalized youth. This can be most clearly seen within the US’s migration system and the criminal justice system. Both institutions fail to operate with consideration for children’s wellbeing and development, ultimately deducting from genuine efforts to help marginalized kids.
Helping Marginalized Children
Vilification and Criminalization
When discussing marginalized children, it is important to acknowledge a social tendency of demonizing them. Individuals coming from less-than-ideal circumstances, victims of various kinds of abuse, those that are leaving their country alone or with their family, all of these can be potential profiles of a marginalized child. A youth placed in circumstances that are difficult to overcome or navigate even for an adult will find many challenges on their life path.
The problems faced by marginalized children are known to affect child behavior and attitudes, as well as their actions. As a result of this knowledge, combined with common stereotypes, there are cases when marginalized children are seen as a monolithic threat against social order. In such conditions, kids are often subject to systematic economic and social abuse, including detainment, youth detention and engagement with the prison system. The focus on seeing young troubled children as instigators of conflict and irreparable criminals takes away from opportunities for recovery and rehabilitation. One prime example is the treatment of children in cases of illegal immigration. The problem is prevalent at the US border, but other nations also face similar issues with detaining children (“Migrant children continue to face serious risks across Europe,” 2020). Presently, the United States largely harbors a zero-tolerance policy on illegal immigration and any attempts to enter the nation barring official means, creating an array of dangerously inhumane methods to accomplish its goals (Cheatham & Roy, 2014). Any person or family found to be breaking that rule is placed in forced detention, including children. Oftentimes, children are detained in poor conditions and denied basic hygiene measures, or an ability to see their family (Bilaterals, n.d.). While the anti-immigration measures were designed in order to stop acts such as human trafficking from taking place, the enforcement of detention has negatively affected children (“Children on the move, smuggling and trafficking”, n.d). Considerations regarding this topic extend to many countries, including cases of child detention in Malaysia, causing a strong reaction from children’s protection organizations (Chughtai, 2020). Other connected concerns, such as child mistplacement, are also commonplace, presenting a variety of child protection-related concerns to the surface (“Child displacement – UNICEF data,” 2021). Similarly, the justice system and the youth detention complex present many problems for marginalized youth, while also masquerading to protect children.
Children that experience problems in their homes, do not find a sense of belonging in the school system, or have trouble connecting with their peers are often seen as a potential threat to society. If such children commit acts of misdemeanor, or crimes, they are much more likely to face persecution (Cohen, 2018). This is even more likely for kids of color, who encounter uniquely vigilant policing in their lives. The juvenile detention system works against the goals of reforming or helping budding youth, instead separating them from the rest of society (Cohen, 2018). Mental health is noted to be a serious problem in such facilities, highlighting their negative impact on young minds (Beaudry et al., 2021). In many cases, even small offenses can lead to a sentence (Eileen Baldry and Chris Cunneen, 2019). As a result, socialization, rehabilitation and recovery efforts for marginalized children suffer (Juvenile Law Center, 2018). Instead of rehabilitation, help and treatment, children are subjected to confinement and punishment.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it can be seen that many common institutions that are established to work with troubled youth are unable to help it overcome emergent problems. Instead of providing the necessary security, safety, understanding and knowledge that a young person needs, systems of power recognize them as threats and further subject children to negative treatment. Unable to acquire the help they need, such individuals’ condition deteriorates further, starting to present more issues for both families and society at large. It is important to recognize children’s need for help, their limitations as people and the global requirement to support their future development. Furthermore, it is vital that children’s existing agency and autonomy are promoted in all instances of child-centered work, similar to medical care (Ford et al., 2018). Understanding the overarching systems that put children at a disadvantage, providing care for those that need it, and ensuring a variety of basic human rights is a necessary step to helping marginalized kids. In addition, the juvenile detention system, along with the current immigration practices, need to be systematically revised. The current work of these institutions hinders social progress of supporting marginalized kids. The justice system must focus more on education and rehab, instead of punishment (Ayilah Chaudhary, 2019; Wallace, Wooldridge and Somanas, 2020). Only by introducing change at a national level is it possible to give more children a chance at a better future.
Reference List
Ayilah Chaudhary (2019). Adapt youth prisons for maximum education, not maximum security. [online] USA TODAY. Web.
Beaudry, G., Yu, R., Långström, N. and Fazel, S. (2021). An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-regression Analysis: Mental Disorders Among Adolescents in Juvenile Detention and Correctional Facilities. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 60(1), pp.46–60.
Bilaterals. (n.d.). The criminalization of migrant children, the violation of rights as a migratory control strategy. Web.
Cheatham, A., & Roy, D. (2014). U.S. detention of child migrants. Council on Foreign Relations. Web.
Child displacement – UNICEF data. (2021). UNICEF DATA. Web.
Chughtai, S. (2020). Save the children statement on the detention and mistreatment of Rohingya refugee children in Malaysia. Save the Children International. Web.
Cohen, J. (2018). Reforming Children’s Rights: The Criminalization of Youth at the Intersection of Schools and Juvenile Justice Systems. Web.
Eileen Baldry and Chris Cunneen (2019). Locking up kids damages their mental health and leads to more disadvantage. Is this what we want? [online] UNSW Newsroom. Web.
Ford, K., Dickinson, A., Water, T., Campbell, S., Bray, L., & Carter, B. (2018). Child centred care: Challenging assumptions and repositioning children and young people.Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 43, e39-e43. Web.
How are children different from adults?(2020). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Web.
Juvenile Law Center (2018). Youth in the Justice System: An Overview. [online] Juvenile Law Center. Web.
Migrant children continue to face serious risks across Europe. (2020). European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights. Web.
Trafficking in persons & smuggling of migrants module 12 key issues: Children on the move, smuggling and trafficking. (n.d.). United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Web.
Wallace, M., Wooldridge, J. and Somanas, I. (2020). Critics contend detention facilities can endanger youth. [online] Kids Imprisoned. Web.
What are children’s rights? (n.d.). Children’s Rights Alliance. Web.
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