A House with Two Rooms - The Advocates for Human Rights

Liberians also reported concerns about losing traditional community supports for childrearing and
adapting to a legal system that is more protective of the rights of children. One focus group participant
stated:
In Liberia, if two parents are working, the neighbor will step in as a parent.
Here a neighbor will not do that. Consequently, one cannot leave a 9 or 13
year old at home in America, but can in Liberia. 441
This issue is particularly critical for single parents in the Liberian community. 442 One service provider
noted that she has encouraged clients to enroll their children in after-school activities so that they do
not have to stay home alone. 443
The U.S. legal system provides protections for children against abuse and other forms of negligence.
But, in Liberia, practices that may be considered abuse in the United States were accepted as forms
of discipline. Many believed that “if you spare the rod, you spoil the child.” 444 For example, one
statement giver reported that during his youth in Liberia he was locked in a closet with no food for
a day as a punishment. 445 Another interviewee noted that a traditional punishment was to rub hot
pepper juice all over parts of the body so that it would burn with pain. 446 “In Liberia, parents were
not afraid to punish their children. Here there is a fear that children will tell the guidance counselor if
they are punished, and that the punishment will be considered child abuse.” 447 While many reported
this as a concern in the diaspora community, Liberians and law enforcement authorities are working
together to address the issue. Police efforts at educating the community were reported as having
helped to mitigate the problem, and Liberians are growing increasingly aware that they need to find
alternative means to discipline their children in the United States. According to one community
leader, however, “it’s a challenge for Liberian parents to find a way to keep the kids in line without
using these practices.” 448
One Liberian academic in Minnesota summarized the situation:
The struggle that we have is…in our country where we don’t have law
enforcement in child protection. Instead we have a hierarchical system, where
you are supposed to yell at your kids, but kids now say you cannot do this…
In the old days you have children to help you on the farm, but that is not
their obligation anymore. Your responsibility as a parent is to provide them
an environment conducive to them being competitive…[Some families] in
the community have kids before they are prepared, and these conditions
lead to social stressors that lead to abuse of kids. We need to intervene in the
lives of brothers and sisters so we can help them. 449
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