I'm going to keep this one as short as I can, because this topic bothers the hell out of me, and I'm sure it's going to ruffle a great many feathers (commence the hate mail!).
This past week I've talked to several of my friends about striking children- more specifically, a parent striking his or her child. This action is in no way appropriate, a FACT that is backed by plenty of psychology. Therefore I believe people need to choose not to be ignorant of the affects that physical action has on children (I won't go into details, if you don't know what I'm talking about, you should look into it, as it is a very interesting socio-psychological subject). Unfortunately, many of my friends and my ex girlfriend all believe that hitting a child is fine as long as it is "warranted". All of these people use the fact that they were beat as kids as some sort of reasoning as to why this violence is not a problem. "My parents hit me, so that's how I'm gonna raise my kids".
But what does this have to do with inequality? Well, it has to do with what I find to be the least noted inequality and "ism" of all that exist: ageism- specifically pertaining to adults and children. Adults in these situations use their strength to disadvantage children, while using age as a rationalization for the oppression. Children have no fault in the matter. They have a natural ignorance which is treated by education. Any acting out is directly related to the parent.
Furthermore, children have no means of escaping this oppressive relationship. Instead of finding any of the many ways of treating a child's less favorable behaviors, a parent deciding to strike a child is taking an action which demonstrates clearly one body of power disadvantaging a body of powerlessness.
It's something to think about if you plan on raising a child. Many of you, I'm sure, will tell me why I'm wrong, and how you were beat, or have beaten, and the child/you turned up fine. But I promise you that I'm not wrong, and that you or the child has an issue that stems from an action that provides short term results and long term problems.
There is no place for oppressive actions based solely on ignorance and a failure to be better. Let me also say that I know some people who have the most kind and wonderful parents, yet who were struck as kids. I can tell you that they are nice people, my friends, but they have their share of problems- quite noticeably- including varying forms of social retardation. Let's just think about it.
