Essay Child Abuse in A Child Called It by Dave Pelzer

In American society today we fail to address several issues that need to be addressed. Unfortunately, child abuse is one of the major issues that our country is plagued with, yet we neglect to bring this to the attention of the entire nation. It is often over looked because everyone has a different view of what exactly defines child abuse. The International Child Abuse Network (ICAN) uses four basis categories to docunment the child abuse cases. They are: emotional abuse, neglect, physical abuse, and sexual abuse. I will be describing the first three. Emotional Abuse, (also known as: Verbal abuse, mental abuse, and psychological cruelty) includes acts or the failures to act by parents or caretakers that have caused or could cause†¦show more content†¦There were also 12 deaths that could not be classified. This is a grand total of 849 deaths caused by child abuse and neglect in 1998. The rate of child abuse and neglect fatalities reported by NCANDS has been rising over the last several years from 1.84 per 100,000 children in 2000 to 1.96 in 2001 and 1.98 in 2002. The 2001 report also showed that children ranging from age 0-1 year were accounted for 40.9 percent of all fatalities. 84.5 percent of maltreatment-related fatality cases were age six and under. 35.6 percent of child fatalities resulted from neglect alone, 26.3 percent from physical abuse alone, and 21.9 percent from both neglect and physical abuse. 82.8 percent of these child fatalities were the result of maltreatment by one or both parents. Mothers acting alone accounted 32.4 percent of child abuse and neglect related fatalities. The children ranging from zero to age three are the most frequent victims of child fatalities. Along with the 2001 NCANDS data, in 2002 children younger than 1 year accounted for 41 percent of fatalities, while children younger than 4 years accounted for 76 percent of fatalities. This population of children is the most vulnerable for many reasons, including their dependency, small size, and inability toShow MoreRelatedThe autobiographical narrative, A Child Called It by Dave Pelzer recounts the harrowing abuse he800 Words   |  4 Pagesautobiographical narrative, A Child Called It by Dave Pelzer recounts the harrowing abuse he endured at the hands of a figure that should represent security and comfort-his mother. Between the ages of 4-12 Pelzer suffered mental, physical and emotional torment from his alcoholic mother, ostracizing him from his family. A dwelling that should symbolize a sanctuary for an innocent child instead became an abusive containment facility. In documenting the raw images of his scarred past, Pelzer was able to fabricateRead MoreA thesis paper on child abuse with a look into Dave Pelzers autobiography A Child Called IT Outlines various types of child abuse and prevention suggestions.3133 Words   |  13 PagesTitled Child Abuse.A thesis paper on child abuse with a look into Dave Pelzers autobiography United States more than three children die as a result of child abuse in the home. That is more than 1,000 children a year and most of these children are under the age of six. (http://www.childhelpusa.org/child/links.htm) You may be wondering, what exactly is child abuse? Of what does it consist? Are there different types? What are the signs? Read on to find all the answers and take a look into the lifeRead MoreThe Lost Boy1478 Words   |  6 PagesA Child Called it In his two novels A Child Called it, and The Lost Boy, the author, Dave Pelzer explains about his childhood. During that time, author was a young boy from an age 3 to an age 9. Davids mother has started to call him The Boy and it. The author mainly covers the relationship between his family. His main focus point is the bond between his mother and him. He describes his mother as a beautiful woman, who loves and cherished her kids , who changed from this The Mother, whoRead MoreEssay about The Lost Boy1438 Words   |  6 Pages A Child Called quot;itquot; In his two novels A Child Called quot;itquot;, and The Lost Boy, the author, Dave Pelzer explains about his childhood. During that time, author was a young boy from an age 3 to an age 9. David’s mother has started to call him quot; The Boyquot; and quot;it.quot; The author mainly covers the relation ship between his family. His main focus point is the bond between his mother and him. He describes his mother as a beautiful woman, who loves and cherished her kidsRead More A Child Called It by Dave Pelzer Essay653 Words   |  3 PagesA Child Called â€Å"It†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The book A Child Called â€Å"It† was written by Dave Pelzer. â€Å"In the years before I was abused, my family was the â€Å"Brady Bunch† of the 1960s. My two brothers and I were blessed with the perfect parents. Our every whim was fulfilled with love and care.† These are Dave’s words about his family before he was abused by his mother. Dave Pelzer has experienced a truly extraordinary life. As a child, he was abused by his alcoholic mother, which included physical torture, mental crueltyRead MoreA Blind Eye to Our Abused Children in In A Child Called It by Dave Pelzer3371 Words   |  14 Pagesnoticed the abused child when the mother sought out services for food stamps. She had noticed the bruising on her arms, and her eyes, her eyes told a story no one could describe. So very often, ourselves we experience the abuse of children. For example, attending little league basketball, baseball, or soccer games. Somewhere along the line, parents and some grandparents have forgotten that these activities are learning experiences for our youth - not a showcase for verbal abuse! UnfortunatelyRead MoreChild Called It Paper1487 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿Uri Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Model of Dave Pelzer (A Child Called It) Choronosystem (1 example) Dave’s parent’s become more separate (pg. 61) Macrosystem (3 examples) Dave’s Mother was so happy to actually have a family†¦until she lost it (pg. 18) Exosystem (5 examples) Neighbors: Den mother did not notice Dave’s need for help (pg. 27) Social Services: Police Officer comes to meet with Dave (pg. 10-11) Dave is taken into custody (pg. 13) Education System: School Nurse takes notes andRead MoreThe Horrendous Suffering Faced by Dave Pelzer599 Words   |  2 PagesAmerican author, Dave Pelzer, grew up in San Francisco with his mother, father, and brothers. Dave’s mother was not like a normal mother, Dave’s mother, Catherine Pelzer, beat and neglected Dave. Dave also had 4 brothers that lived with him and his parents: Richard, Ron, Stephen, and Kevin. Dave’s father lived with them, but was rarely home. While Catharine did not neglect Dave’s brothers she did not deserve custody of Dave’s brothers, because of her abusive ways towards Dave (Pelzer). Dave’s motherRead MoreThe Reading Level Of A Child Called It By Dave Pelzer Essay1442 Words   |  6 PagesAlthough the reading level of A Child Called â€Å"It† by Dave Pelzer wasn’t difficult, processing the horror of the events that inspired the story was. People who experience traumatic situations can often recall the events with sharp clarity, which is exactly what Pelzer did. Riddled with grim details, the text takes readers on a journey through Dave Pelzer’s troubled early years. Through his meticulously documented experiences, readers get a perfect view into the torture that shaped his childhood. AlthoughRead MoreA Child Called It By Dave Pelzer970 Words   |  4 PagesDave Pelzer’s book, â€Å"A Child Called It† (1995), chronicled the unforgettable accounts of one of the most severe child abuse cases in California’s history. The book is an intriguing, yet intimidating journey through the torturing childhood of the author, hi mself. The child, Dave Pelzer ¸ was emotionally and physically tormented by his unstable mother. He was the victim of abuse in his own home, a source of ridicule at his own school, and stripped of all existence. This book left me in suspense as I