Girl Talk Magazine Volume 1 (November, 2013). | Page 12

ABUSE

Sexual abuse is...

Any type of sexual contact between an adult and anyone younger than 18

Between a significantly older child and a younger child.

If one person overpowers another, regardless of age.

Emotional abuse can be the most difficult to identify because there are usually no outward signs of the abuse. Emotional abuse happens when yelling and anger go too far or and an individual constantly criticizes, threatens, or dismiss' kids or teens until their self-esteem and feelings of self-worth are damaged.

Physical abuse is often the most easily recognized form of abuse. Physical abuse can be any kind of hitting, shaking, burning, pinching, biting, choking, throwing, beating, and other actions that cause physical injury, leave marks, or cause pain.

Neglect is difficult to identify and define. Neglect occurs when a child or teen doesn't have adequate food, housing, clothes, medical care, or supervision. Emotional neglect happens when a parent doesn't provide enough emotional support or deliberately and consistently pays very little or no attention to a child. This can affect how one develops or percieves an outlook on life.