Olivia Stinson
EN101-23
Professor Kerr
October 4, 2011
U.S. vs. China
Almost 62% of abuse victims in China are females (Moxley). However, in the Unites States there is an equal ratio between males and females. Surveys show that child abuse is very gender-selective in China (Taipei). Since the one-child per family law was introduced in 1979, life for Chinese females is one of bitterness and discrimination (Fitzpatrick). Families in China would rather have sons compared to daughters due to the fact that the parents think a son will be able to manage the crop (or business) more successfully, and their culture dictates that when a girl marries she leaves her family and becomes a part of her husband’s family. Many parents think having a boy is a blessing because that ensures they will be taken care of in their old age. This law puts stress on the families it applies to because the one child has to carry the entire families hopes. In the United States most families do not have this state of mind. The U.S. and China have a different understanding of what constitutes as physical abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect in children.
A woman named Luo Cuifen was often described as a colicky baby (Ching). When she was 26 years old, doctors discovered more than two dozen sewing needles embedded in her body. Some of them were piercing her vital organs (Ching). The most used form of physical abuse in China is when a child’s guardians (or close relatives) force pins/sewing needles into the child’s flesh (Reuters). Other forms of this abuse include pouring scalding soup down infant’s throats, kicking, beating, slapping, etc. In the U.S. it is usually just defined as causing a non-accidental physical injury. Examples are, kicking, slapping, punching, etc.
In the United States, sexual abuse can include engaging a child or soliciting a child for the purposes of prostitution, using a child to film, photograph, or model pornography. As well as fondling, engaging in indecent exposure, deliberately exposing a child to the act of sexual intercourse, etc. (AHA). Females in China are often sold as prostitutes in their teen years, especially if the family was not able to be rid of them as toddlers (Taipei). There are reports of Chinese authorities raping, molesting, and beating female prisoners and practitioners in the Guangdong and Guangxi provinces (Falun). These authorities also use unusual and horrid types of abuse when sexually violating these females bodies such as stun guns, hot irons, electric batons, iron wire, pepper powder, etc.
Neglect is the most common form of child maltreatment in China (Jones). Due to the preference for male babies and the low value with the birth of females, when looking at statistics in Chinese state orphanages, 95% of the children residing in them were females (Jones). The only boys were mentally or physically disabled. Although these females are labeled orphans the majority actually do have parents, but they were abandoned purely because they were “born the wrong sex” (Jones). In the United States there are four types of neglect. Physical (when the caregiver does not provide the child with basic necessities), Educational (when the caregiver fails to enroll a child of mandatory school age or provides appropriate home schooling), Emotional (engaging in extreme spousal abuse, allowing a child to use drugs/alcohol, withholding affection), and Medical (when the caregiver fails to provide healthcare for the child) (AHA).
Different cultures have different rules about what is considered acceptable parenting practices. Although physical abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect are occurring in both the United States and China, caregivers (or guardians) can be influenced by culture, religion, or simply what an individual believes is right and wrong. The things that a female in China has to face throughout life are horrible, however it will not change because it is part of their culture to think of females as having a low value. The gender-selective abuse that occurs in China is very bias. Many females will have a long life of hardship and agony.
Works Cited
AHA (American Humane Association) “Child Sexual Abuse” Web Site. 2003. 02 October 2011.
Ching-Ching Ni “A Grim Tale of Child Abuse in China” Online Article; Los Angeles Times. 2007. 02 October 2011.
Falun Dafa “ Sexual Abuse” Web site. 02 October 2011.
Fitzpatrick, Laura “China’s One-Child Policy” Online Article; TimeWorld. 2009. 02 October 2011.
Jones, Adam “Female Infanticide” Web Site; case study. 1999-2000. 02 October 2011.
Moxley, Mitch “Children Cry Out for Protection” Web Site. 2011. 02 October 2011.
Reuters “Study shows worrying trend of child abuse in China” China Digital Times (CDT) Web Site. 2005. 02 October 2011.
Taipei, Taiwan “Reports of Child Abuse increasing significantly” Online Article; The China Post. 2010. 02 October 2011.
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