HISTORY AND DEMOGRAPHY OF CHILD ABUSE

Abstract

A Historic and demographic discourse at a gathering of this nature is usually provided for three purposes: 1. To offer an informational background to those who are not aware of or are not up to date about a particular phenomenon. 2. To ring the alarm of crisis pointing to the seriousness and pervasiveness of the phenomenon discussed. 3. To provide a perspective from which to initiate discussion. As to the first two purposes your attendance demonstrates your concern and your alarm. Moreover, other speakers shall provide particulars on these points. I shall attempt to provide the perspective for subsequent discussion. HISTORY In order to provide this perspective, I wish to define some basic terminology regarding acts performed in concert and/or individually upon children. Infanticide has been practiced in almost every nation, both civilized and uncivilized, since recorded time. This act has been responsible for more child deaths than any other single cause in history, other than possibly bubonic plague. Its two characteristics have been the tacit acceptance or active participation by elements in the society in which it was found, and a rationale for its existence, which is generally woven into the fabric and culture of that society. In most cases, infanticide has involved the infliction of body trauma upon a newborn child so as to willfully and knowingly cause death. This does not exclude the less common practices of intentional neglect at birth, or the ritual killing of older children. The rationales for this practice have generally been (1) religious appeasement and reactions to prophecies of doom; (2) collective or individual acts of faith and proofs of worthiness; (3) Darwinian survival and Maithusian population control.