Child Abuse and Cinderella: Social Blindness

16 Dec 2002 Child Abuse and Cinderella: Social Blindness
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/fairytales_myths_fables_&legends/97081

Certainly the Grimm brothers were only collecting folk-tales and didn't mean to insinuate any social comments.

A major controversy in literary criticism is the reflection of the writer within his works, but certainly the brothers were sensitive to deprivation and hardship that surrounded them and the plight of impoverished children. No doubt, they were and are powerful advocates of social reform, competing with Charles Dickens for psychological insight and influence. And although, it's tempting to consider only the kitschy Disney version with it's saccharine treatment of Cinderella's neglect with the happily-ever-after ending, a quick look at contemporary news headlines should be enough to convince anyone that the Grimms were grim. True that duct tape is a recent invention with which some parents restrain their children, inadvertantly starving or killing them; but child abuse and neglect is such an ugly aspect of social history that it looks much prettier in technicolor with pumpkins turning into carriages and mice into footmen.

To shrug off the implications of child neglect and abandonment in the story is to be blind to the grave injustices of society. Very likely, the same people who read the schmaltzy picture books as bedtime stories to lull their children to sleep are the same ones who rail against parental abuse and the horrific stories dominating headlines about a child duct-taped into a high-chair, mummified under 42feet of duct tape:

Nando Times-Nation: Ex-adoption caseworker gets 20 years in child's death
by Clarke Canfield Augusta ME Sept 26,2002 2:47pm EDT
http://www.nandotimes.com/nation/story/551539p-4351671c.html

It's easy to turn away and say, "oh that's Florida or Texas" both infamous for violence and politicians, but when it's across the street, we turn our heads and criticise the drug addicts who have children, excusing ourselves from social responsibility and extenuating the hellish conditions children suffer through neglect or parental abuse. Surely, this is exactly what the Grimm brothers did point at, for the theme of abuse and neglect runs through not only their stories but throughout fairytale and folk literature. The difference is that the better-off members of society read Cinderella as a bedtime story whereas children throughout the world, particularly in the US, live in such conditions without any real justification other than that they are invisible to society. Unwanted as financial or emotional burdens, they are cast aside, abandoned in such horrific conditions that seasoned policemen and reporters are shocked; yet the neighbor next door or the social careworker will glibly say, "I didn't know" or "everything seemed okay". The tragedy is

that the Cinderella's of this world are speechless with grief, isolated by silence and social blindness, frequently not able to speak in self-defense or prevail against the oppressive parents and society that expects them to survive.

The recognition of Cinderella as a member of society only takes place when she is transformed into a beautiful princess at the ball. Only then does she win the attention of the prince and society. A glance at Google News reflects this: Zsa-zsa and Winona dominated the headlines for weeks with their personal dramas attracting public interest and gossip columns internationally; but children everywhere suffer the abuse of Cinderella—go without adequate clothing, proper nutrition and endure hardship within the house of a rich father—the United States, and are told to shut-up, be quiet or go to sleep when really they are very hungry, tired and in great need of love. The headlines, revealing their stories, vanish in a couple days. A fairytale? Hardly. It is just inconvenient to admit to the injustices of society when after all what you want for Christmas is a Sony PlayStation 2. or more trivial: a robotic dog or fur coat or a pretty Walt Disney movie.

Seattle P-I: The Truth Dies with Them: A P-I Special Report Oct 31-Nov 1, 2002
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/specials/family.asp

Seattle P-I: Photos are all she has now of son killed by abusive boyfriend
by Ruth Teichroeb Friday, Nov 1, 2002
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/93653_sara01.shtml
story of Sara Buchanan and 6 yr old Justin. Bremerton police described death as murder by torture

Seattle P-I Special Report: Fatal Neglect: Children in a state of neglect
The orginal report published April 12, 2002
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/specials/fatalneglect/index.asp
a series of p-i investigative reports of child neglect within the state administrative services care

Seattle P-I: A police officer's lament: Dogs are better protected than children by state law
By Teresa Berg, Pierce County Detective Sunday, April 14, 2002
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/64968_bergop.shtml
a personal editorial by a police detectiven regarding a child found on a drug-bust

Seattle P-I: For children, neglect can hurt as much as abuse
By Carol Cummings Sunday, April 14, 2002
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/66018_cummingsop.shtml
personal record of a public official involved with child neglect cases

Nando Times: Nation: Stepfather of girl locked in closet sentenced life in prison
by Susan Parrott, AP Dallas Dec 12, 2002 6:07pm EST
http://www.nandotimes.com/nation/story/672181p-5017705c.h
five years of abuse locked in a closet, deprived of food and toilet facilities

Nando Times: Nation: Mother arrested after twins found in attic with rats
AP Aurora, MO Dec 3, 2002 11:44pm EST
http://www.nandotimes.com/nation/story/658393p-4940085c.html
children fodder for rats?

Nando Times- Nation: Analysis: A National tradgedy that needs a natinal strategy
by Kathy A Gambrell UPI Dec 3, 2002 4:03pm EST
http://www.nandotimes.com/nation/story/657543p-4936937c.html
summaries of cases nationwide of child abuse and neglect
the case of Eric Horridge who lost his son, Collin
absent father who protested the abuse of his children but was ignored by child care authorities

" The steady stream of these abuse horror stories has become a modern fairy tale for the public. It either ends very well or very badly. No matter what, there is a sense of helplessness on the part of those who see the problem as a byproduct of government inefficiency."

Google News Search retrieval on "abused children"
http://www.news.google.com/news?hl=en&q=%22abused+children%22
over 300 hits from around world between Sept 2001-Sept 2002