Heidi Gunderson Mr. Beachey English 9R 24 March 2017 Shameless He punched her, she kicked and screamed to drown out the names the one who she thought loved her so much shouted at her, “idiot” “needy.” She still loved him she just didn’t understand what she could have possibly done so wrong. She gave him her whole heart, her whole self, she hated herself. It was all her fault she thought, I must not be good enough she thought, he’s right. Although this is fictional, it happens all too often. All types of abuse can be found many different places, books, shows, real life, and etc. but it always ends up making all victims feel the same. Although our society often overlooks abuse, actually sexual, psychological, and verbal abuse are far more prevalent …show more content…
In To KIll A Mockingbird, during the Tom Robinson trial, Atticus has Mayella Ewell on the witness stand and asks her “How many sisters and brothers do you have?” she responds with seven. Atticus then asks how long her mother has been dead, Mayella then muttered, “Don’t know-long time” (Lee 224). Although never said, it’s a clear implication her father, Bob Ewell, had sexual relations with her because that had to be the only way to explain where all the children came from. The abuse and heartache that her father caused her explains Mayella’s stuttering and weeping throughput her own answers and explanations. Sexual abuse is not only found in books, it is real life happening all over. According to the American Psychological Association and RAINN every eight minutes a child is sexually assaulted in the US. The effects of it even feel worse, the victim will feel guilt, shame and blame, feeling it was their fault. Along with the most important, low self-esteem. Low self-esteem can affect many different aspects of the victim's life, it’s damaging relationships, careers, and even health. Being sexually abused is very traumatic and causes the victim to feel embarrassed, ashamed, and changed …show more content…
The common saying “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” seems dubious or arbitrary because the words potency is very high, the words that were yelled, murmured, or cried stick to the victim. In Prom Night in Mississippi teenagers all over the town of Charleston were being hurt and criticized for wanting an integrated prom. White parents opposed to the idea of “niggers rubbin’ up against my daughter,” declared that they intended to have “no mixed babies up in this house” and resolutely planned a separate Whites-only “prom” for their children anyway. A white student named Jessica stated she gets judged everyday for having black friends, as well as her parents threatening and threatening to disown her if she doesn't un-friend her black friends. One girl’s father made a remark, saying he hopes his white child and her black boyfriend go their separate ways and grow further apart. It’s disheartening when white kids can say whatever they want and black kids can’t even open their mouths. Tom Robinson, a character in TKAM wasn’t truly listened to either. Even his lawyer, Atticus Finch, was mocked and called a “nigger-lovin’ bastard” (Lee 291). Maycomb residents and Scout's classmates follow in Bob Ewell’s footsteps and criticize Atticus for defending Tom. During his testimony, Tom says many times he never raped or abused Mayella but especially as a white lady,
What is the first thing you think of when you think of cruelty? Prejudice, Criticism, Horrible person, Slaves, Abusive Physically and Mentally, how people treat people, Animal Abuse, Child Abuse, Satanic, Mean, Red, Math, Torture, Hurtful, Hateful. These are the answer I got when I ask what people what their opinion was. It seems as though these are all correct, as everything on this list has some sort of cruelty. There is no wrong answer to this question. To Kill a Mockingbird is an eccentric book that takes place in the 1930’s explaining how the blacks are treated against the whites. In basis a form of cruelty
The racial prejudice exhibited in TKAM was done so by most members of the Maycomb community. Their negative and discrimatory attitudes towards African Americans could be obviously seen at Tom Robinson’s trial where Mr Ewell said “I seen that black nigger yonder ruttin’ on my Mayella!” not only is his use of derogatory language incredibly degrading and offensive, his compares and associates Tom with an animal by
In the 1930’s many African American men were wrongly accused of rape and murder. The issue of racism is brought up in the book “To Kill a Mockingbird” when Scout overhears her teacher saying that it's a great thing that this is happening to Tom Robinson because the black men are getting too comfortable thinking that they’re mighty. Racism didn’t only affect Tom Robinson, but it also affected those who supported him. The lives of Scout and her family are changed when Scouts father who is a lawyer, steps in and defends Tom Robinson. Atticus’ lawsuit affects Scout and his children in several ways. As kids who were raised to respect everyone, and not judge people by their race they seem to be the outcast in school because of this. The children in Scouts, school are not accustomed to people respecting African-Americans and as a result they taunt and harass Atticus’ children. As a result of the violence towards Scout, Scout responds to violence with violence. However, Atticus is not happy with the way Scout is handling her problems. Racism is a reoccurring theme throughout the course of the story and affects all of the main characters in several ways. Maycomb as a whole is affected because of racism and many become outcasts such as in Mrs.Dolphus Raymond's
The effects of childhood sexual abuse carry on with the children forever. To what extent and to what effect does abuse have on children during adulthood? What are the main issues that adults have been abused suffer from in adulthood? Do they have more of a physical issue with preforming with their partner in the bedroom or do they have more of a mental block due to their trauma? The world had been asking these questions for far too long and we need answers on how helping the children of our world. The questions that have been stated have been answered through the two articles that will be summarized below.
Anna lives in fear of her brother and wants to be there to support her mother. Anna is attending college and meets her first boyfriend Matt Preston. Matt is good looking and the first male in her life that makes her feel happy and she wants to please him. During a night out with Matt, Anna becomes a victim of abuse. In shock, she doesn’t know what to do and doesn’t tell anyone.
abandonment by her family and the shame she thinks she has brought on to the
In the novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, racism is a major theme. Atticus Finch, the narrator’s father, defends a negro, Tom Robinson, in the court of law against a white man, Bob Ewell. Robinson had reportedly raped a young white girl, Mayella Ewell. But according to Robinson he had gone to help Mayella, as he often did, with work around the house. As he starts helping Mayella, she tries to get Tom to kiss her and will not let him out of the house. Bob Ewell sees this and chases Tom out of the house and accuses him of raping his daughter. Atticus goes against almost everyone in Maycomb County’s opinion in defending Tom Robinson. Throughout the course of the novel, racism effects many characters such as Tom and Helen Robinson, Scout and Jem Finch, and Mayella and Bob Ewell. All these characters had there lives
Tom Robinson, a black man, in Maycomb, went through this struggle caused by the citizens of Maycomb. He was accused of raping a white woman named Mayella Ewell, although he has been the only person who treated her with respect in the past. During the trial, Tom Robinson was asked by Atticus Finch, if he had ever took advantage of Mayella Ewell and Tom declared, “No suh, Mr.Finch, I never did. I wouldn’t do that, suh” without a sense of hesitation or guiltiness shown in his voice (Lee 257). Revealing that Mayella was using Tom as an easy target to accuse of rape because she thought that people would believe her, since the rest of Maycomb are mostly composed of racist people.
Maycomb is a petite, sleepy town, however, the political side is vicious. Atticus selflessly decides to defend Tom, an African American, in court who was being wrongly prosecuted for rape. Despite Maycomb’s arsenal of verbal chastisement on himself and his children, continued to defend Tom. Because Tom was African-American, his rights were subconsciously removed due to racial bias. "It was just him I couldn't stand," Dill said…"That old Mr. Gilmer doin' him thataway, talking so hateful to him… It was the way he said it made me sick, plain sick… The way that man called him 'boy' all the time an' sneered at him, an' looked around at the jury every time he answered… It ain't right, somehow it ain't right to do 'em that way. Hasn't anybody got any business talkin' like that—it just makes me sick." (Lee 155-165). Although the treatment was harsh, Atticus continued to defend Tom because Atticus’s virtues abide by protecting the innocent. The overwhelming negativity crowding the court case that Atticus disrupts for Tom Robinson supports Atticus’s altruism in defending the
Scout learns that by yielding to prejudice, we often hurt and cause strife unto others. For example, Scout is harassed and becomes the target of insults when her father decides to defend Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a white woman. This is a plajurized essay. The hate felt towards black people by the majority of the Maycomb citizens causes them to bother and harass those who attempt to befriend the black people. Forgive me for stealing this essay. Scout realizes that the only reason she must undergo this torment is that her father is defending a black man, which has become taboo because of the corruption that racism has caused in many people. In addition, Scout watches Tom Robinson undergo unfair treatment and false accusations. Please dont tell my parents I stole this essay. Although Atticus provides the jury and the people of Maycomb with overwhelming evidence benefiting Tom, and ultimately proving him innocent, this is not enough to overcome the powers of hate and racism. Scout watches as the jury deliberates and convicts Tom Robinson of murder because he is a black man. This is a stolen essay. Although Scout witnesses a myriad of injustices occurring against black people, she also sees an exiguity of kind and compassionate movements towards black people.
She was suffering from postpartum depression after having her newborn baby, and the situation of her being controlled
A small city nestled in the state of Alabama, Maycomb has got its faults, just like any other place in the world, but one of its main faults or (pg.88) “Maycomb's usual disease,” as Atticus calls it in the book is prejudice. Jem and Scout learn a lot about prejudice when a black man named Tom Robinson is accused of raping a white woman named Mayella Ewell and their father, Atticus, is called on to be his lawyer. They realize the hate that people have buried deep within their heart when they see a black man accused of doing something only because of his color. On pg.241, Scout starts understanding this and thinks, “Atticus had used every tool available to free men to save Tom Robinson, but in the secret courts of men's hearts Atticus had no case. Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed.” As the case continues, up until the death of Tom Robinson, Jem and Scout learn more and more about prejudice and how the hate that people have towards others causes them to take wrong actions. They also see how unfair it is that a white man can get treated better and think of himself better than a black man only because he was born white. This prejudice and the trial cause Jem and Scout to get in argum...
Shocked but I could believe what she had told me. I pitied her, I hate that word so much I hate feeling it even more. All I could think was “Shame poor girl I’m so lucky not to be her.’ An adrenaline rush hit me, fuelled by the thought that I would be the one to fix her. So disgusted with myself, I beat down on my soul with vicious words of self-deprecation.
As a result of sexual abuse, individuals are severely traumatized, struggle with interpersonal relationships, hold a negative self-image
It is most important to understand that children and teens of all racial, religious, ethnic, gender and age groups, at all socio-economic levels are sexually abused. Although there are risk factors that may increase the possibility of sexual abuse, sex abuse can be found in all types of families, communities, and cultures (The Scope of, 2016). Childhood sexual abuse is an important issue to address because the impact of sexual does not end when the abuse ends. Childhood trauma follows into adulthood and can have long-range effects. “Survivors of sexual abuse are at significantly greater risks for severe and chronic mental health issues, including alcoholism, depression, anxiety, PTSD and high risk behaviors” (The Scope Of, 2016). Victims may experience traumatic sexualization, or the shaping of their sexuality in “developmentally inappropriate” and “interpersonally dysfunctional” ways (Effects of Child, 2012). “A child who is the victim of prolonged sexual abuse usually develops low self-esteem, a feeling of worthlessness and an abnormal or distorted view of sex. The child may become withdrawn and mistrustful of adults, and can become suicidal” (Effects of Child, 2012). Overall, the effects and impact of childhood sexual abuse are long lasting and do not diminish when the abuse ends, their childhood trauma follows them into