Rights And Wrongs Of Childrens Work: New Perspectives From Research And Action

Almost all the world’s children work at some time in their lives. In some instances the work is extremely harmful; in other relatively harmless; and in still other are beneficial, a positive element in growing up. It is questionable whether current child labor policies and interventions, even though pursued with the best intentions, succeed either in protecting children against harm or in promoting their access to education and other opportunities for successful futures. Incorporating recent theoretical advances in childhood studies and in child development, the authors argue for the need to re-think assumptions that underlie current policies on child labor. Drawing on well-documented historical cases ranging from contemporary Morocco to nineteenth-century Britain, the authors examine concrete situations of work and schooling, suggesting that not all paid work outside the home is harmful to children, and that not all unpaid work-not even all work in the family or school-is harmless to children. They also explore ideas of children’s independence in the workforce as well as how working as a child can positively contribute to adolescent development. The authors, while sensitive to the abusive nature of some children’s work, maintain that a “workless” childhood free of all responsibilities is not a good preparation for adult life in any society.