Child abuse or child maltreatment has been a worldwide concern. In China, however, it receives scant attention from both academic communities and government. Chinese society has little awareness of child abuse as it is known in the West and there are apparently different conceptions and treatments of the problem. This paper attempts to delineate how the problem is now understood and treated in Mainland China. The reasons why child abuse has not yet been recognized as a social problem worthy of public concern in China are explored. It is argued that as a signatory of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child there is a need for the Chinese government, the academic community and professionals to reflect on their conception and treatment of child abuse so as to achieve more effective child protection for all children who are victims of child abuse.

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A B S T R AC TThe present study focuses on public perceptions of parental child beating and child physical abuse (CPA) in mainland China. In-depth interviews were conducted with 20 parents and a quantitative survey was administered to a sample of 1033 adults in urban districts of Beijing. The quantitative and qualitative results are consistent: both parents and the general public were hesitant to consider the beating of one's own child (by biological parents) as a case of CPA. Respondents indicated that only when parents beat their children malevolently and frequently, so as to cause serious physical injuries, could it be considered CPA. The majority of respondents supported governmental interventions in severe cases of CPA. However, respondents' perceptions of CPA in mainland China are different from those that are prevalent in the West. Therefore, it is essential to develop programmes that educate the public in order to improve their awareness and knowledge of CPA in mainland China. bs_bs_banner

Key Practitioner Messages Child abuse is a complex social problem that is often deeply rooted in the cultural, economic and social practices of the country in which it exists. Child abuse in China is understood as deliberate and harmful acts, while many Western societies also include acts of omission such as neglect. There is a complex relationship between public awareness, media coverage and state intervention.