Child Abuse and Molestation Awareness

1. Child Abuse and Molestation Awareness Alyssa Scheuer Image: survivorsmanchester.org

2. The Movement:Stop Child Molestation and Abuse • According to the Gale Encyclopedia of American Law, “Child molestationis a crime involving a range of indecent or sexual activities between an adult and a child, usually under the age of 14”(371) • The Justice Department has stated that there are roughly 4 million pedophiles in the U.S.(371) • The internet, specifically social networking sites such as Facebook, have brought to our attention human rights and social issues in a bigger way than ever before. The Stop Child Molestation and Abuse page on Facebook, leads one to a website where the movement is explained and people can share their stories. www.causes.com

3. Stop Child Molestation and Abuse • As stated on childmolestationvictim.com, about 80% of the victims know their abuser, and appooximately 33% of girls are abused and 14% of boys. • Stop Child Molesation and Abuse was founded on August 9, 2007. • The founder of this specific movement is Jaqueline Dewitt, however, there is no information listed about her. • On this website, one is able to share their story, give support to those who have, and donate money to the cause.

4. Who Is Impacted? • Included in my project are girls and boys in the United States who are under the age of 14. • The norms, or “Social rules for what certain types of people should and should not do”(Hall52), are much different than the norms for adults in the United States. • Some common norms for kids in this age range are that they trust and confide in adults around them, and to treat their elders with respect. • These norms may make it difficult for this social group to stand up for themselves and know what is right. It also makes them more susceptible to be taken advantage of. Image: Gonderen http://lightmix.blogspot.com/

5. Stereotypes and Discrimination Among Children • Stereotypes are defined as “Attributions that cover up individual differences and ascribe certain characteristics to an entire group of people”(Hall 192). Some children may be ascribed with the stereotype that they are helpless, therefore can be easily taken advantage of. • Although we would hope the laws would protect minors against these dangers, it is not always the case and cannot always be stopped or prevented. • A convicted child molester named Larry Jon McQuay admitted that he believes he will never be caught again. He said, “I am doomed to eventually rape, and then murder my poor little victims to keep them from telling on me…” (Wetzstein). Because of the the United States judicial system, this man was released after only 6 years in prison. I believe this is a clear example of discrimination against children and a greater stance should be taken in regards to the laws surrounding these types of actions.

6. Learning Outcomes • Through this assignment, I learned actively by perusing information through the library databases and transferred the information I learned about child molestation to the slides. • I thought creatively and reflectively when connecting the information to definitions from Halls textbook.

7. References • Child Molestation. (2010). In D. Batten (Ed.), Gale Encyclopedia of American Law (3rd ed., Vol. 2, pp. 370-372). Detroit: Gale. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com.ez.sccd.ctc.edu:3048/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CCX1337700815&v=2.1&u=seat92874&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w • Hall, B. J. (2005). Among cultures. (Second ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. • Wetzstein, C. (1996). The child molestation dilemma. World & I, 11(11), 56.