Final answer:
The consequences if a scene like that in The Glass Castle occurred today would include greater social services access, stricter child abuse laws, and higher societal awareness regarding the severe impacts of child abuse. Option number a is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
If the scene from The Glass Castle took place in today's age rather than the 1970s, the consequences might include greater access to social services and child protection agencies due to more developed systems and public awareness. There would likely be stricter laws and regulations regarding child neglect and abuse, reflecting a society that is less tolerant of such behaviors. Furthermore, individual behaviors and societal attitudes towards parenting are heavily influenced by the historical context, meaning that actions considered acceptable decades ago may now be seen as abuse. This change in perspective is in line with significant research showing the long-term impacts of child abuse on physical, mental, and emotional health, as well as societal costs.
Child abuse today is recognized across all socioeconomic, educational, and cultural lines, with a clear understanding that stresses faced by parents, such as financial stress, can contribute to higher risks of abuse. However, resilience in parents can mitigate these risks. Unlike in the past, younger parents today, especially teenage mothers, are identified as more vulnerable to perpetuating abuse, and with increased age of parents, there's a decrease in abuse risk.