Posted by Melanie on September 16, 1999, at 20:39:33
In reply to The Twisted Shield of Social Status, posted by Cass on September 16, 1999, at 19:13:24
> I just need to get something off my chest. I was highly neglected and psychologically abused as a child, and I think that one of the biggest barriers to my getting help from the school community or social services was the fact that I came from a white, educated, middle-class, non-drug or alcohol using family. My parents were also somewhat charismatic. When I was in high school, I told a counselor many details of the kinds of bizarre, unkind and neglectful behavior my parents exhibited. Although he listened, he never intervened nor did he do anything constructive that I know of. His only comments that I remember were specualtions that I may be mentally ill. I notice that when I tell people about this past neglect and abuse, the first thing they usually ask is, "Were your parents alcoholics?" The answer is a resounding "no." Once they learn that my parents were not alcoholics, their tone usually becomes skeptical. Few people seem to recognize that some parents can inflict cruelty and hate upon their children without being in an altered state of mind. I feel that my parents had enormous insecurites and resentments. In order to maintain a feeling of superiority, they degraded their children, and pride kept them from admitting that they these had problems. Afterall, they had their social status to maintain (which was not based on the content of thier characters, as it should have been, but based upon superficialities, like diplomas and income.) I'm not knocking education. I love education. But I don't think that being educated necessarily means that one has good moral character. My parents lives ended tragically. ...
> Any feed-back is welcome.Child abuse spans all socioeconomic classes, races, and ethnicities. People like to think that such things only happen to others--yet usually, it's happening right next door. Recently in my hometown, a woman was on trial for beating her niece to death. Her two 11 and 13-year-old male children helped her, even sexually molesting the little girl. They have been placed with the juvenile authorites. They lived in a nice neighborhood in one of the best school districts in town. Until we realize that child abuse effects us all, we will not even begin to eradicate the problem.
The counselor you talked to should be ashamed of himself--those who are licensed to practice in the human services are mandated by law to report all suspectd child abuse. I hope you have since gotten the help you needed as a child! Peace, Melanie
poster:Melanie
thread:11662
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990914/msgs/11667.html