Preface:
I want to make it clear
that I shall not focus on the numbers of the majority but the opposite,
as the number of the minority in this topic reflects the attitude of some
people towards the topic and from the numbers of the minority it can tell us
how it can be an important topic to discuss and why it is a problem worth
noting.
For example, even if 90%
of the people in the survey has a positive answer to the child abuse survey and
wish to help and this may be seen to be a positive thing but the other 10% of
the people who answered negatively and does not care is still part of the
problem. And this part of the 10% must be given the spotlight and importance as
to help dive deeper to the root of the problem.
It can also be said that
if that 10% does not disappear the problem of child abuse would not cease to
exist.
In other words, even if
the percentage is low, if the survey done on the community where the 10% who
responded negatively on this problem mostly live, the problem may not come to
light and maybe the problem might still continue in an unseen ongoing
unbreakable chain of child abuse.
That is why I shan’t put
great importance to the numbers and the bigger percentage of positive answers, as
that will not serve any purpose in abolishing child abuse. To add to this
statement, focusing on the numbers and the bigger percentage will have a risk
of hiding the root of the problem and instead I shall focus on the result of
the survey.
The result of the survey:
Q.1) Which of the
following do you think are included in the definition of child abuse?
The result on the image
above shows us that many people knows what qualifies as child abuse. I am
genuinely happy about the result.
Q.2) Did you or
know of anyone who experienced child abuse?
The result here shows that
there are many who answered ‘Yes’ child abuse is not a topic that is foreign to
the respondents of the survey and that it can happen in real-life not just on
the news.
This thus further helps strengthen
the fact/reality that child abuse is a problem that can happen anywhere and regardless
of what station or class or environment we are, we all know what or the image
of child abuse is even on the surface-level and have heard of it even once in
our life.
Q.3) How are you
related to the person who was a survivor/victim of abuse?
In this result there are
no answers exceeding other answers and this may tell us that there is no ‘stereotype’
to the victims, such as the victims only being a child of some unknown
neighborhood and that is that, no, even they the child abuse survivors being
grown-ups where once children and this further
proves the fact that child abuse although not seen is there and happening near
us all.
Child abuse is not a
foreign thing that doesn’t concern us, we can see in the result that it can
happen near us and yes, I am not using past-tense because even if the abuse
stops the effects are long-lasting and still haunts the now grown-up victims.
Q.4)
(↓Not
from the SurveyMonkey survey but the survey based on the Yokohama victim)
If you happen to stumble
upon a scene where the child is abused, what would you do?
We can see in the result
that although there are many people willing to help, it does not necessarily
mean it will be for the long-term, in other word we can say that the same
people who are willing to talk to the abuser does not think of the repercussion
of their actions and in some cases, the abuser’s actions becomes much more
brutal towards the victim, and it can also be said that child abuse to some
people are a problem that happens in the heat of the moment; instant but I will
raise my voice to say, that child abuse is gradual and most cases the abuse are
long-term and the effects of the abuse itself is also, long-term.
I also find that this ‘solution’ to talk
directly to the abuser, is maybe the result of the discrepancy between the news
outlets/media’s painted picture of child abuse (to be more sensational and
based on fast reactionary of emotion and not so much based-off of rationale ) and
the reality of child abuse, which is heart-breaking and sad, as news media
should report news as it is and give/start a long discussion for the long-term
betterment and support of child abuse.
---
Lastly, I would like to
ask you, my readers:
If you happen to stumble
upon a scene where the child is being abused, what would YOU do?
Please comment below your
answers if you like to =-).
And if you are in any
doubt or want to help somebody, please do not hesitate to call your local child
welfare center, or any authorities with a knowledge or a professional background
in child abuse, please do raise your voice as the victims are struggling to tell
their side and do not turn the other cheek and think it does not concern you, we
are all sharing this place called Earth and I believe we all have a duty to
care for one another.
Thank you for reading my
long post.
And as always,
Sending you the reader(s)
good vibes!
-
Miki Yoshie
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