A Child Called It

Dave Pelzer’s “A Child Called It” is a story based upon a boy who was physically abused by his alcoholic mother and the torment he faced growing up. The Health Commnication Inc. published the book in 1995.

As a young boy, his means of survival was through his faith in God. His abuse was a game to his mother but hell for him. The games she played with David varied from waving a knife to his face stabbing him the chest to starving David for joy as her form of control. His mother did not consider him a son but a slave and no longer a boy, an “it”. David had nothing and no one to turn to, but his dreams kept him alive, dreams of someone taking care of him, loving him and calling him son. Although it took sometime for him to get out of his struggles, he did. The school nurse and teachers came to realize the abuse he was going through and finally decided to take a stand.

In David’s situation he was able to get out mainly because there was physical evidence. M

. . .

In a situation where sexual abuse is practiced, most children will not say anything because they are ashamed of what may happen afterwards and/ or they might not know how to approach the situation to seek help (Kehoe 23). Ignoring- Adults who have had few of their emotional needs met are often unable to respond to the needs of their children. David Pelzer, faced emotional and physical abuse but managed to over come his situation. They may ridicule him or her for displaying normal emotions and have expectations far beyond his or her normal abilities. If people would speak out against what is happening then maybe the rate of abuse might decrease. This is particularly true for children if there are no signs that damage are being done (Administration 2). Government statistics are based on cases that were (a) reported to social service agencies, (b) investigated by child protection workers, and (c) had sufficient evidence to determine that a legal definition of "abuse" or "neglect" was met. Children who are constantly shamed, humiliated, terrorized or rejected suffer at least as much, if not more, than if they had been physically abused. With emotional abuse there are different types:

1. Because emotional abuse attacks the child's mind and self-concept, the child comes to see him or herself as shameful of love and affection. Therefore, official government statistics do not indicate actual rates of child abuse. Terrorizing- Parents may single out one child to criticize and punish. This type of abuse is 8% of all substantiated cases of child abuse. Aside from physical abuse which is defined as physical injury (ranging from minor bruises to severe fractures or death) as a result of punching, beating, kicking, biting, shaking, throwing, stabbing, choking, hitting (with a hand, stick, strap, or other object), burning, or otherwise harming a child. Rejecting- Parents who lack the ability to bond will often display rejecting behavior toward a child.

Common topics in this essay:
Commnication Inc, Protected Services, Abuse Emotional, , Terrorizing- Parents, Emotional Abuse, David Pelzer, Child Called, Ignoring- Adults, Rejecting- Parents, emotional abuse, child abuse, physical abuse, abuse emotional abuse, aside physical, abuse sexual, government statistics, sexual emotional, abuse emotional, aside physical abuse, sexual abuse, type abuse,

Approximate Word count = 810
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Already a member? Click here