What This Document Is
This document is a scholarly article titled “The ‘Discovery’ of Child Abuse” by Stephen J. Pfohl, originally published in *Social Problems* in 1977. It examines the historical and social forces that led to the recognition of child abuse as a distinct social problem and the subsequent rapid criminalization of abusive behavior towards children in the United States during the 1960s. The article blends perspectives from conflict theory and labeling theory to analyze this social and legal development.
Why This Document Matters
This article is valuable for students and researchers in courses like Social Construction of Crime, sociology, criminology, and social history. It’s particularly relevant when studying the social construction of deviance, the role of medical professionals in defining social problems, and the historical context of child welfare legislation. It provides a critical lens for understanding how societal perceptions of harm evolve and are formalized through legal systems. This source is used to understand how a social issue can be “discovered” and rapidly addressed through legal means, and the underlying power dynamics at play.
Common Limitations or Challenges
This article focuses specifically on the period leading up to and including the 1960s. While providing a foundational understanding, it does not cover contemporary issues in child abuse prevention, intervention, or the ongoing debates surrounding definitions and responses to child maltreatment. It’s a historical analysis, not a current guide to practice.
What This Document Provides
The full article includes:
* A historical survey of social reactions to child beating, examining the impact of the 19th-century “house of refuge” movement, early 20th-century work by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, and the rise of juvenile courts.
* An analysis of the cultural values surrounding child protection prevalent during the “discovery” of child abuse as a social problem.
* An examination of the role of the medical profession, particularly the identification of “battered child syndrome,” in shaping the definition and response to child abuse.
* A discussion of the social reactions and legal consequences that followed the recognition of child abuse as deviance.
This preview provides only a summary of the article’s scope and purpose. The full text contains the detailed historical analysis, theoretical framework, and specific arguments presented by the author.