Browsing by Subject "Child"

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Child Sexual Abuse: Healing Through Television
(Tangaza University College, 2006) Watetu Gichuici, Mercylillian
Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) is an issue that is a real thorn in the flesh of our society today. There are various forms of CSA, but despite the differences, as Cashman affirms, it is an abuse that violates the child's deepest feelings and emotional development.' This act of sexual "gratification" is a greedy, selfish and cruel behaviour that leaves the child with wounds that run deeper than physical hurt. They remain secret and hidden and if they are not brought out they kill the person softly since, the pain and shame is carried on into adulthood. "In any church congregation of a hundred people there are probably at least 10 who were subjected in childhood to sexual abuse which in some cases has had a disastrous effect on their physical and mental health. In any place of work, school assembly, there are people who are suffering or have suffered some kind of sexual abuse." 2 It is our duty as a society to hear their story and attend to abuse survivors whose tears of grief, pain, and suffering are still running. Children who are being sexually abused now might not speak out for themselves because threats and coercion silence them. This might have disastrous consequences especially in their adult life; they may carry the mental scars of abuse forever. Therefore, in order to help today's survivors young or old we must look at yesterday's victims to tell us what is happening today so that we can try and create a less painful tomorrow. The so called 'battered child syndrome' was first recognized by the medical profession in 1961. Initially the term referred to serious non accidental physical injury, but now the concept of child abuse also includes sexual and emotional abuse and neglect. The current statistics paint a frightening picture of the reality of child abuse today all over the world that leaves a lot to be desired.