Running head: Child abuse 1

Child Abuse

Shannon Waters

Ivy Tech Community College

English111-JIF-Research Paper-Rough Draft

Professor Cooper

17 April 2017
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Abstract

This paper talks about how Dave Pelzer, a famous author today, overcame his childhood

struggles of being abused, by his alcoholic mother. This paper also talks about how difficult it

can be for most people in those situations to overcome the struggles, and move forward and

away from the same habits. It will discuss another case of child abuse, and how different their

outcome and look on life is today.

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Child Abuse

Dave Pelzer, the author of several books, and receiver of many prestigious awards is a

tremendous success today. With all this success, has been more struggles and pain then any

person should ever have to go through. Dave was beaten and abused by his mother, an angry,

alcoholic, divorcee. He was subject to some of the worst conditions as a child. Daves case was

thought to be one of the most gruesome and extreme cases of child abuse in Californias history

at the time. Even though he dealt with these things as a child, he overcame them. He became

the hero of his own life. This was not an easy thing to deal with especially when the trauma first

started. His only thoughts when he was a child was doing anything he could to stay alive. He

only later grew to the ideals of thriving and changing his own thoughts and outlook on his life.

The Nightmare

Dave grew up in San Francisco, California, with his mother, and his father, who left his

mother, after she became an abusive alcoholic, leaving Dave to be the subject of her anger. His

father was also an alcoholic. The severity of the abuse almost took his life on several occasions.

It not only took several years for others to stand up and fight for his rights, and report his abuse,

but when someone finally did report it, he was twelve years old. The abuse was believed to have

started when he was four years old. A school teacher finally reported his abuse, after finding stab

wounds on his body.

He was reportedly beaten, stabbed, and starved as a child for many years before anyone

had come to help him. Many people believe that abuse can change a persons mental health, and

how they feel about themselves. This is an accurate theory given the thoughts, and words, of

Dave in his book, A Child Called It, when he says (p. 10) I spill my guts out telling them
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Mother punishes me because I am bad. He believed that his abuse, was his own fault. He stole

food from garbage cans, but it was his fault? Everything he did to survive, he had to do, but he

believed all his actions made him bad. His mother stabbed him, but it was an accident? Abuse in

this degree affected him for many years, making him believe that it was all his fault.

Affects

The effect of child abuse can be deep. As said in What is prevention and why is it

important, Research shows that child maltreatment is associated with adverse health and mental

health outcomes in children and families, and those negative effects can last a lifetime. It was

also said in 11 Facts about Child Abuse that, Children who experience child abuse and neglect

are 59% more likely to be arrested as a juvenile, 28% more likely to be arrested as an adult, and

30% more likely to commit violence crime. While these statistics are not fair to those who are

abused, it is still solely up to the person(s) to not be the victim of their own life. It is up to them

to be the hero of their story, and to look at how they grew up and decide they want to change the

outcome of their lives for the better.

Dave took these statistics, and threw them out the window. He wanted to change his life

for the better. He was determined that nothing and no one would get in the way of his success.

He was only 12 when he was placed into foster care, where sadly, things were not much better

than life with his mother. He was placed into several different foster homes during this time, until

he was 18, and old enough to enlist in the U.S Air Force. As Dave said in The Lost Boy, (p. 295)

I knew I had to first find myself. I couldnt do it living so close to my past. I had to break

away.

Letting It Out
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While in the U.S. Air Force Dave got the idea to write several of his books, to get his

troubles and inner demons out. While his writing style is a long way from being sophisticated,

conjuring the military man he was, it is straightforward and commanding. His books reflected the

years Pelzer has spent analyzing his past to clear it away.

His strength comes through in his books, and makes readers realize they cannot wipe

away their past to move forward. They have to get in front of the issues in hand to move forward.

Many of his books have encouraged countless individuals to reevaluate their choices and their

lifestyles. Two years after enlisting into the military he got married, and had a son. He is a living

example of a self-made man who can take his past and continue to succeed in life every day.

Sadly, this is not always the case for many people.

Genie

McMahan (2014) stated this horrific story that was uncovered:

A 13-year-old girl named Genie, was only 20 months old when her father Clark Wiley

who, thinking she was mentally retarded, locked her up in a bedroom, without any light. The

only furniture was a cage with a chicken wire lid and a childs bathroom chair for her to use.

While living under her fathers roof, she was beaten with a one-by-three- foot board for making

any noise, and was threatened with her fathers gun daily. When she was discovered she could

not speak, wore diapers, and would crawl on the floor like an animal. When her home was

searched, it was described to be similar conditions as a concentration camp. At first sighting,

Genie was thought to be only six-years-old and autistic, until they figured out her real age. She

was immediately taken from her familys care, and put into the care of the government. While

she was being looked after, they established that she had the physical development of an eight-

year-old, and weighed only 59 pounds. Eventually Genie learned how to read and use sign
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language. She learned to open up to others, and not live in complete fear. Despite all the

breakthroughs she made, there were also major setbacks. The government that funded her

studies, believed that the project was a failure and stopped the money. Although researchers had

the best of intentions, she was exploited and abused by a series of caregivers and foster parents.

After being sent to live at a foster care home for special needs children, and one that was

extremely religious, she regressed.

Where Are They Now

Later, she (Genie) was able to communicate at a childrens hospital that her foster parents

had physically punished her for vomiting. Since that moment, Genies speech never recovered.

Her last known whereabouts was a private institution in Southern California for the mentally

undeveloped, but that location remains unknown. Curtiss said, I spent 20 years searching for

Genie without ever getting any leads (The Horrific Story of Genie).

Genies Family

Genies father and mother were charged and arrested with child abuse, but just before her

father was scheduled to appear before a judge, he shot and killed himself. Her mothers case was

eventually dropped after she allegedly, was abused by her husband and tried to leave. She was

never given custody of her daughter though. Once she turned 18 the worst thing happened. She

moved back in with her mother into her childhood home of horrors. Of course, that situation

didnt work out, either, and she was eventually returned to the system. No one truly knows what

happened to her for nearly 11 years, locked up in a dark room all alone. She was a feral child.

Pelzers Family

As for Dave Pelzers mother, and family, many family members denied he ever was

abused and stated that he is living off a lie. His family has often stated that Dave was always a
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dramatic child, and would often lie about things that had happened. If what he says is a lie, why

were there several reports of the condition the boy was left in. His father remained intentionally

inattentive of the entire situation as he was an alcoholic himself. His older brother, Richard

Pelzer, was the only family member that confirms much of what Dave has said and describes. He

also wrote details of his own abuse in A Brothers Journey. His mother, was never arrested for his

abuse, but later died alone. As for Dave, he has obviously ignored the scrutiny of his family, and

tried to continue moving forward with his new life. Unfortunately, he does suffer from some

severe psychological issues due to his abuse, but continues to push forward. He is the author, of

several self-help books, and has spent his life determined to help motivate others to help

themselves.

Making a Difference

Dave is a loving dad, husband, and an award-winning motivational/inspirational

speaker/author who works hard to help others caught in dysfunctional relationships to get out and

find help. Not only has Daves books made several positive impacts on the everyday person, but

has also made impacts on a few celebrities. Peters (2009) stated Pelzers memoir was the main

inspiration for songs A Child Called It and Rescue Me, both of which appear on the new

set (p.57-57). This refers to the band Buckcherry and their album released after the lead vocalist

had read Pelzers book. The band has also acted by partnering with Child help, a nonprofit group

dedicated to helping victims of child abuse and neglect, which in turn helps several survivors.

For over two decades, Dave had dedicated his life helping others, to help themselves.

While many make excuses, he chooses to bury any excuse he could have, and decided to help

himself, become the opposite of what he grew up knowing.

Jones (2008) says:

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While many self-help gurus claim to have influenced millions of peoples lives, Pelzer

actually has. A Child Called It, his best-selling memoir about surviving a horrifically abusive

upbringing, has practically become a textbook in high schools across the country. Here, he also

strives to help readers become successful against the odds, touting a commonsense yet

compelling message: believe in yourself, let go of the past, take responsibility, and have faith.

(p.112-112) This is an important message for anyone, no matter what they are going through in

life.

Keep Moving Forward

Just because someone has a rough upbringing, it does not mean that person should dwell

on the past, and destroy their future. They need to take every terrible thing that has happened to

them, no matter the situation and use that as a pushing factor in bettering their lives. Everyone

has unfortunate things happen to them. That is just a part of life. Without these unpleasant events,

no one would know the greater things in life. Many took Pelzers words and put them into

actions. Several self-help groups were created, trying to help survivors of abuse, thrive, and

continue changing their lives.

Verhoeven (2014) said, I found his books so touching and inspiring. No matter what

kind of horror Pelzer was faced with, he persistently kept trying to understand and improve. He

overcame tremendous odds and eventually did find peace and self-respect. Pelzer still had to

overcome struggles with himself, and his life even after he escaped those horrors. This was not

an easy task, but he never made excuses. He took the consequences of his actions, and kept

moving forward.
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Finding Inner Peace Through the Struggle

Pelzer (2014) states in the prologue of Too Close to Me:

It is about how some of us, stupidly, even arrogantly, keep repeating lifelong patterns

while plowing ahead, placing a great deal at risk, while attempting to repair whatever situation,

in the mere hope that ones efforts will yield some new, transformed result. On a deeper level,

this book is also about our subconscious fears and demons and the devastating effect they can

have on the decisions of our lives in the real world. It is about how every day is another

chance, another opportunity to achieve happiness and the empowerment of forgiveness. My

message has always been about resilience. Something good comes out of every crisis. (prologue)

Dave has still struggled with future relationships. After divorcing his first wife, he eventually

remarried. He has stated numerous times that his work, and influences have affected his life now,

but everything eventually does. It is how you learn to handle situations when things go wrong.

His goals were to help others, while helping himself.

You dont get over the things in your life, you learn to accept them. Everything that Dave

Pelzer went through made him who he is today. His constant battle to stay alive, gave him the

incredible work ethic that he has today. He refuses to quit helping others, and that speaks

volumes to how viewers of his book, and just in this world in general should be. Aspiring to help

others grow and better their lives, can be helpful to your own life. This is how Dave Pelzer

became the hero of his own life.

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References

Child Welfare Information Getaway (2016, April 12). What is prevention and why is it

important. Childwelfare. Retrieved from http://www.childwelfare.gov

Jones, M. (2008). Moving Forward. Taking the Lead in Your Life, 133 (10), p.112-112. Retrieved

from the Academic Search Premier.

McMahan, E. (2014). The Horrific Story of Genie. Firsttoknow. Retrieved from

http://www.firsttoknow.com/

Pelzer, D. (1995). A Child Called It. Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications, Inc.

Pelzer, D. (1997). The Lost Boy. Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications, Inc.

Pelzer, D. (2014). Too Close to Me. Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications, Inc.

Peters, M. (2009). Good Works. Buckcherry Fights Against Child Abuse. 121 (16), p.57-57.

Retrieved from Academic Search Premier.

Verhoeven, M. (2014). Reader Recommendation. A Man Named Dave. Retrieved from

Academic Search Premier.

Volunteer for Social Change. (n.d.). 11 Facts About Child Abuse. Dosomething. Retrieved from

http://www.dosomething.org.