The recent spurt in rape cases in our country has left all of us shocked and stunned, making us stop in our tracks and wonder what has gone wrong with our society. Rape is a violent form of sexual abuse, but there are other forms of abuse which are more subtle, but can have long-lasting repercussions on the mental and emotional makeup of the child.
AS A PARENT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO KNOW:
What is Child Abuse?
Child abuse can occur when a parent or an adult indulges in acts that cause serious physical, emotional and psychological harm to a child.
Child Abuse mostly takes these forms:
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Sexual Abuse
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Psychological Abuse
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Total neglect
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Violent physical abuse
Children who have had to deal with abuse are most likely to have problems while growing up; building and nurturing strong relationships will be a problem for them.
Moreover, they are also likely to harbor
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Low self-esteem
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Suicidal thoughts and tendencies
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Depressive mental states and
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Other psychosomatic issues.
As parents in India a majority of us tend to push issues like sexuality and sexual abuse under the carpet, rather not talking about them, and pretending that they do not exist. But in the rapidly changing societal fabric that is evolving in our country, we would be placing our children in extreme danger if we do not share an open platform with them at all times. So it is imperative that you share an easy and transparent channel of dialogue with your child.
RAPE:
Rape is forced sexual intercourse, and it can happen to both males and females at ANY age. Rape is a form of sexual assault and does not in any way, involve love or sex. In fact, it is all about power. Control is exerted over the child or the person, and violence is either carried out or is threatened. Drugs or alcohol can also be used so that the child or adult’s ability to fight back is reduced.
Rape is a crime, and anyone committing it- a stranger, a friend or a family member is deemed a criminal.
Any person who has been raped, especially if it is a child, needs immediate medical care, support, and above all, understanding.
In the coming sections, we shall be looking at what age we should start talking to our child about abuse and its dangers, and how we can protect and keep our precious ones from such harm.
What is child rape