Combining historical analysis, literary critique, and neuroscientific insights, this article critically examines the persistent phenomenon of child abuse and the systemic adult hypocrisy that perpetuates it. It traces abuse from ancient practices through modern institutional failures, highlighting how cultural norms, religious misinterpretations, and political inaction reinforce cycles of violence. Dostoevsky’s stark portrayals, coupled with evidence of trauma’s long-term neurological impact, underscore the deep-rooted nature of abuse. Ultimately, the work argues that despite incremental improvements, entrenched power dynamics and societal denial ensure that true reform remains unlikely, calling for urgent individual and collective moral accountability.