The Portrayal of Child Abuse and Neglect in Media

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Media Research and Analysis
Conclusion
References

Introduction

The topic of child abuse and neglect is a heavy one, but it requires an additional spotlight to attract societys attention to this issue. This long-standing societal problem, when brought under the public eye, can be dismantled by peer pressure from the community on the government to take necessary actions to stop the harassment. The thesis of this paper is that while the media sometimes uses child abuse cases to lure more viewers, it also plays a crucial role in bringing public attention to this societal problem. The essay will present an analysis and comparison of five media sources, including one film and four news articles that deal with the topic of child abuse in the United States.

Media Research and Analysis

The first newspaper article by Paul and Elinson is called Child-abuse reports are falling, and thats bad news for children, which concerns the decrease in reported cases during pandemics. The article includes a shocking story of child abuse being witnessed by Dr. Nienow in a childrens hospital to evoke frustration in a reader. The report provides statistics that show a significant drop in registered cases rates in many states. Due to the prolonged and often unavoidable contact between family members, with the addition of a stressful situation in the world, the number of abuse cases tends to rise (Paul & Elinson, 2020). Depression, even non-chronic, is one of the leading causes of child abuse (Crosson-Tower, 2014). By keeping a close eye on families where domestic violence against children is more likely to happen during crises, authorities can prevent such cases from passing without notice.

Communication between a teacher or a caretaker and social services is a crucial link in abuse prevention. The authors link this issue with the fact that children are no longer being examined by non-family members for any signs of abuse (Paul & Elinson, 2020). Crosson-Tower (2014) writes that recently, teachers have also become increasingly involved with the prevention of abuse (p. 244). By excluding their participation in the process, the whole prevention system is severely weakened and requires new interventions to protect the children. This article shows the statistical signs of child harassment while highlighting the role of schools and kindergartens in the prevention of such incidents.

The second article bears the title Alabama daycare worker charged with abusing children, it contains a brief report on the case of prolonged child abuse by a kindergarten employee. This news piece is a short story that aims to summarize the trial of Candelin Hyde, who has used physical force to make children comply with her commands. Physical abuse can be hidden by applying force in such a way that it leaves minimal markings, which further complicates the detection of this issue (Crosson-Tower, 2014). This tactic was used by Hyde, however, the childrens parents eventually did notice the bruises and reported her actions to the police (Alabama daycare worker charged with abusing children, 2020). The noticeable part of this article is the fact that the court did not release the name of the facility where the incident took place to avoid attracting negative attention and damaging its reputation.

The third article by Madani is titled Florida deputy charged with child abuse after slamming teen to the ground by her throat. The offender used excessive force on a 15-year old student without causing severe bodily harm. The sheriffs department quickly started to condemn the actions of the deputy who committed this felony to avoid a significant reputation hit (Madani, 2020). As the incident took place in a school for children with emotional needs, the consequences of this maltreatment can be even worse for the childs psyche. The uniqueness of this media piece is that it does not only focus on the incident but also describes how similar cases undermine the reputation of authorities. In this case, the news website works as a mediator and allows sheriff representatives to prevent unnecessary negativity towards the police. At the same time, the behavior of this sheriff who was assigned on the duty that required the high-stress resistance implies that the authority might be at fault as well.

The fourth article posted by City News Service in LA bears the title Noah Cuatro case: Parents plead not guilty in 4-year-old Palmdale boys death. It contains an in-depth description of an incident, along with a backstory that led to this tragedy. This case of abuse and neglect has several details that are omitted in other chosen articles. It reveals legal elements of the investigation that depict inadequate reaction of the county Department of Children and Family Services. The story provides horrifying details that show the fact that authorities were contacted by the dead boys great-grandmother, who reported abuse several times but was ultimately ignored (City News Service, 2020). The statement by DCFS lacks any indication of guilt or investigation of the incident, which further worsens the situation.

The situation was requiring immediate actions that were not taken. Recognition of abuse must be a priority for social services, especially if it was hinted at by a family member. Social services had to assess the situation and, if necessary, refer the case to the court to put the child to safety (Crosson-Tower, 2014). Crosson-Tower emphasizes that child neglect cases are numerous, difficult to identify, and even harder to resolve without putting the child in danger (Crosson-Tower, 2014). Despite its apparent complexity, the lack of action by the local authorities resulted in the death of a child.

The last media piece for analysis is the movie Room, which is an adaptation of the book with the same name by Emma Donoghue that shows a fictional child abuse incident. It tells a heartbreaking story of a woman named Joy, who is being held captive by a psychopath for seven years and has a 5-year old boy named Jack, who was born in captivity. The child suffers from psychological abuse as his mother chose not to reveal that they are trapped in a small shed, instead she convinces him that this is the only real part of the world. Jacks mother involved him in essential day-to-day rituals that play a crucial role in a functional family (Crosson-Tower, 2014). Crosson-Tower (2014) states that psychologically maltreated child often suffers feelings of being inadequate, isolated, unwanted, or unloved, and they consider themselves unworthy (p. 200). To prevent this from happening, Jacks mother decided to avoid exposure to the dreadful reality, which successfully helps the child not to exhibit behavioral issues after their eventual escape (Abrahamson, 2015). The victim continues to have a recurring idea that the confinement might have been a suitable place for him to live, as the boy tries to adjust to the sudden change in his life.

The uniqueness of this story is the fact that it also includes a thorough examination of the post-traumatic stress disorder that Joy suffers after escaping the confinement and the depiction of Jacks integration into society. In the end, Jack and Joy revisit the room to say their final goodbyes to show that it no longer weighs them down. The movie and its approach to this topic come in stark contrast with the regular news reports of child abuse cases since they closely examine the psychological aspects of both ongoing and past abuse.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the variety of stories of child abuse and neglect that are showing up in media help with battling the issue by raising social awareness and creating an empathetic link between viewers and victims. These media pieces provide a wide variety of approaches to highlighting child abuse. The content of each analyzed work offers a unique collection of data related to the case, whether it is a fictional or real story. The victims of the described crimes suffer from parental and societal dysfunctions that inflict great harm and take a significant emotional and physical toll. However, some of the examined articles have been unsuccessful in their attempts to show how legal actions taken by authorities lead to more efficient policies against child abuse and neglect. Crosson-Tower (2014) states that for some families, the intervention of authority, represented by protective services, is enough to give the child some protection (p. 216). Despite this fact, it can be seen in some cases that authorities do not take necessary precautions, do not react in a timely manner, or a perpetrator is an authoritarian figure themselves. In this case, media attention can turn the public eye onto this glaring issue, forcing the government to improve the lacking elements.

The differences show that it is vital for media sources to handle the information, especially personal data, with great care. Some of these pieces can be described as purely informational, while the topic calls for an emotional response. The severity of the depicted crimes and the implications of provided statistics show that there is a prominent need for action. By publishing these stories, the media can stir people into taking action against child harassment. However, Crosson-Tower (2014) warns that media attention can also aggravate an already emotionally charged atmosphere (p. 264). Moreover, there is a need to find the balance between attracting public attention and keeping families who are involved in these scandals safe from unwanted intrusion into their privacy (Crosson-Tower, 2014). The sensational aspect of media reports can amplify emotional damage and provoke continuous harassment of victims, their parents, and other involved sides.

This sensitive topic, while benefiting from such coverage, also provides a breeding ground for hatred, therefore, it is necessary to publish these stories with great caution. As such news regarding real-life incidents can have an adverse impact on victims lives, fictional genres create a more suitable example without harming anybody. However, society can achieve a more conscious attitude toward child abuse and neglect by shedding light on real-world cases, as they tend to evoke a higher emotional response. Human civilization needs to address this issue without stigmatization or ignorance.

References

Abrahamson, L. (Director), & Donoghue, E. (Writer). (2015). Room [film]. Filmnation Entertainment et al.

Alabama daycare worker charged with abusing children. (2020). AP NEWS. Web.

City News Service. (2020). Noah Cuatro case: Parents plead not guilty in 4-year-old Palmdale boys death. ABC7 Los Angeles. Web.

Crosson-Tower, C. (2014). Understanding child abuse and neglect (9th ed.). Pearson College Division.

Madani, D. (2019). Florida deputy charged with child abuse after slamming teen to the ground by her throat. NBC News. Web.

Paul, D., & Elinson, Z. (2020). Child-abuse reports are falling, and thats bad news for children. WSJ. Web.

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The Portrayal of Child Abuse and Neglect in Media

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