Re: child abuse in a global context

[<lfontes@xxxxxxx>]

I would hesitate to make any generalizations about "the global 
north" versus "the global south." Perhaps you might find some 
commonalities regarding national policy--although I doubt it. 
But within the same nation you can find cultures that beat their 
children brutally and cultures that sanction even raising one's 
voice to a child. 

If I am remembering correctly, Levinson's (1989?) book on 
Family Violence Across Cultures found 19 societies across the 
world where family violence--including violence directed at 
children--was unknown, and these were found throughout the 
regions of the world. I am not at my home office so i might not 
have these details exactly correct.

These kinds of generalizations about North versus South worry 
me because of their potential for stereotyping and 
overgeneralizing. I am sure you would engage in this in a 
responsible way Dr. Mapp, so I'd be interested in learning more 
about your context.

Lisa Fontes, Ph.D.
author, Child abuse & Culture: Working with diverse families