Children at risk from stepdads [trigger warning for discussion of child abuse]

[kiwiana]

In the wake of Serenity Scott-Dinnington's death, we examine the safety of children raised by men who are not their real fathers. Sarah Harvey reports.

BABY SERENITY Scott-Dinnington died from brain injuries sustained during a violent incident at her home in Ngaruawahia 10 days ago. She was just six months old.

Now child advocates say that

Comments

[roseofjuly]

Also, if something is true, it's not a "scare tactic."

Not necessarily. It depends on the way that it's said. A scare tactic is, quite literally, a tactic used to scare someone into doing what the speaker wants them to do.

[roseofjuly]

I don't think that's what the original commenter was implying.

I think they were referring to this:

Father and Child Trust Auckland support worker Brendon Smith said biological fathers were "virtually a guarantee the child won't die".

He said as well as the child's welfare, that of the mother, was improved by having the father involved in the child's life.

Not only is this not true (as the article even notes, biological fathers harm their children at an alarming rate too), but her statement that biological fathers "virtually guarantee the child won't die" can be construed as manipulating mothers into staying with the biological fathers of their children regardless of those circumstances. The speaker doesn't stop to consider that maybe the bio father was abusive himself.

[velvet_tipping]