Gender nonconformity linked to child abuse

Girls who dress or act like boys, and boys who act feminine may be more likely to be abused and end up with post-traumatic stress disorder, according to a U.S. study. Researchers whose findings appeared in the Pediatrics medical journal said that parents or other adults who are uncomfortable with gender nonconformity may treat children differently, sometimes violently, or be convinced that they can change their feelings and behavior. READ MORE HERE

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Childhood Gender Nonconformity Linked To Higher Abuse Risk

Children who do not conform to their gender-expected behaviors and interests are at a higher risk of being abused and facing subsequent traumas, researchers from Harvard School of Public Health and Children’s Hospital Boston reported in the journal Pediatrics. Childhood gender nonconformity refers to a phenomenon in which children, before puberty, do not conform to psychological or sociological patterns expected of their gender, or their identification with the opposite gender. Examples include a preference for playmates of the opposite sex, choosing not to take part in activities thought suitable for their gender, and a propensity to cross-dress.  READ MORE HERE

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Defying gender norms linked to childhood abuse, PTSD

For Malic White, growing as a child actor meant frequently challenging what it means to be a girl or a boy. But it wasn’t until White identified as transgender during high school that the question of self became difficult and complex. “My family was okay with me being queer,” said White, who is graduating from the University of Chicago in June with a bachelor of arts in gender studies and creative writing. “But being trans is difficult for them to identify with because I don’t represent my gender in a binary way.”  READ MORE HERE

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Childhood Gender Nonconformity Ups Abuse Risk, Study Says

Childhood gender nonconformity- when a prepubescent child identifies with the opposite gender- is an issue with which society is becoming increasingly more aware and accepting. Not always, however- as demonstrated by the recent nationwide controversy surrounding one trans girl’s struggle to join her local Girl Scout troop. And the outpouring of both support and sadly, scorn, seems to be indicative of a larger scale lack of acceptance when it comes to children who don’t conform to gender norms- eschewing toys, activities, clothing and playmates associated with their gender. In the past, studies have linked early gender nonconformity with a child later identifying as gay or transgender (although this is more frequently not the case), but a new study out of Harvard School of Public Health and Children’s Hospital Boston has also linked the phenomenon with higher risk of abuse. READ MORE HERE

TOMBOY

Derived from the term “tomcat” for a male cat, the Tomboy is a major character archetype, and yet is also a somewhat vague concept. A Tomboy is a girl, usually a young one (the implication being that she will “grow out of it” *), who has tastes and behaviors usually associated with boys. Because these associations are culture-dependent and tend to change, what exactly constitutes a “Tomboy” is somewhat subjective. Historically, any girl interested in science, mechanics, or combat has been called tomboyish; today, calling these pursuits “unfeminine” is considered by many to be old-fashioned at best. However, even where gender roles are relatively lax or fluid, choices made regarding media consumption, recreation, and fashion, remain segregated for the most part. Thus the Tomboy remains a current figure, and a popular one for various reasons: A woman might chafe at how “femininity” limits her own choices and find a like minded heroine empowering; boys might find a girl who likes the things they do more relatable.  READ MORE HERE

KINGFISHER — A former Hennessey police officer was given a 45-year sentence after pleading guilty to a felony count of child sexual abuse. Patrick Clay Stackhouse, 29, was ordered to serve all but five years of the sentence by District Judge Paul Woodward. Stackhouse was facing a minimum of 25 years in prison, maximum of life and a fine of $500 to $5,000 for the abuse of an 8-year-old girl that lasted about two years. READ MORE HERE

Tammy Lerner grew up in a big, close-knit family in central Pennsylvania. Everyone lived near one another, celebrated holidays together, and respected the elders as the strong-willed heads of the extended household. When some family members heard allegations that young Tammy and a couple of cousins were being sexually abused by two of their uncles, they protected their kin. The accused abusers, that is.  READ MORE HERE

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The man accused in the violent beating of a 2-year-old child was indicted by a grand jury on 12 counts Friday.Albuquerque police said they arrested Diego Gonzales in February 2012 after his girlfriend called to report severe injuries to her 2-year-old girl. The young child was rushed to the hospital and survived her injuries. READ MORE HERE

‘Most Beautiful Teen’ Facebook Contest Concern

A South Carolina mother pled guilty to killing both her toddler sons. On August 15, 2010, Shaquan Duley suffocated her one-year-old son Devean and her two-year-old son Ja’Van and placed them in her car before driving it into the river. Duley put her sons in their car seats, drove to a boat ramp, placed her car in neutral, and sent it into the North Edisto River. READ MORE HERE

A FORMER teacher who groomed and sexually assaulted a boy at a notorious private school more than two decades ago was jailed today. Mark Standish, 48, also known as Alex, was locked up for four years for abusing Anthony Hudson between 1988 and 1989. Standish was working at Crookham Court School in Thatcham at the time and his victim was just 14-years-old.  READ MORE HERE

Child Abuse Issues (Dec 13, 2011)

Senate Committee Health, Education, Labor and Pensions | Children and Families

TITUSVILLE — A Brevard County father and his girlfriend face serious child abuse charges after police said they found the man’s son locked in a bathroom, lying on the floor and extremely malnourished. Michael Marshall, 38, and his live-in girlfriend, Sharon Glass, 48, were arrested late Thursday afternoon. Titusville police said they received a report about the child’s living conditions. They said the boy had been kept in a cage within a closet, strapped to a bed or locked in the bathroom for days or weeks at a time over the last year. Police said the boy is approximately 13 years old, and weighed only 40 pounds when they found him. READ MORE HERE

Families dealing with child neglect and abuse often go through lengthy and emotional struggles when dealing with Child Protective Services. But, the question remains: Should CPS be able to take children away at their own discretion, without a court order? Changes could be coming as a review of CPS practices is underway.  Police have to get a warrant if they want to search your house. Detectives have to get a court order to seize your property. But, in Kern County, Child Protective Services does not seek court orders or warrants when removing children from their parents. READ MORE HERE

A woman who locked her 14-year-old son in a squalid trailer and fed him just a few times a week has been jailed for three years. Amanda Jolliff, 37, pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and child abuse after police found the boy living in a rodent-infested mobile home in Erie, Colorado. READ MORE HERE