Search Results

The growth of sociological interest in children, of what has come to be called ‘children's studies’, has coincided broadly with the development of the modern children's rights movement. Although those working within the discipline of sociology are clearly interested in children's rights and their goals are often similar to the motley assemblage of lawyers, philosophers, educationists etc., whose primary goal is to disseminate and propagate children's rights, and are not so interested in understanding the construct we call ‘childhood’, there has been little dialogue or collaboration between them. The gulf is apparent from an examination of the interests of Childhood, the leading journal on the sociology of childhood, and the International Journal of Children's Rights. Beginning at roughly the same time, with some overlap of boards, the courses steered by the two have never threatened any collision. The two disciplines have much to offer each other as they have to anyone concerned with understanding childhood and improving the lives of children. There is an overlap of interests, to some extent a congruence of visions, but aims and perspectives, even world views, diverge.

This chapter introduces the rationale for the book and then lays out the main conceptual and methodological considerations utilized in the study of AIDS orphanhood, including critical children’s studies, posthumanitarianism, generations, and youth participatory research. It then provides an overview of the structure of the rest of the book.

Chapter one, written by Michael Lavalette, engages with many of the themes of the so-called ‘new sociology of childhood’ and looks at the recent sociological discussion of the ‘social construction’ of childhood. The chapter addresses the ways in which the concept of childhood has changed throughout history and relates these changes to other developments in society. The chapter concludes with an analysis of the consequences for children once they have been ‘liberated’ from their childhood, and attempts to distinguish the difference between child employment and child exploitation, asking if the discussion surrounding child labour should really be a discussion of whether a child has the right to work.

Working in four other southern states (Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, and Mississippi), Bradley chafed under scheduling and logistical pressures. World War I brought new opportunities for her when Julia Lathrop, the head of the Children’s Bureau, persuaded President Wilson to declare a “Children’s Year.” Then doctors working for the American Red Cross in France recruited Bradley to join them treating refugees and evaluating civilians’ health in war zones.

This chapter, written by Madeleine Leonard, discusses the recent research surrounding child employment in the UK between 1970 and 1998, and addresses the rebirth of interest in child labour among academics, politicians, policy makers and child welfare organisations. It provides evidence of children’s domestic and paid labour and makes an attempt to understand the extent of its presence in Britain by taking into account the numbers of children working in the UK and the conditions of their labour. The chapter also looks into how far recent developments in the twentieth century within the UK have had an effect on the economic importance of children, and the ways that these developments have contributed to a change in attitude regarding child labour.

This chapter, written by Sara Horrell and Jane Humphries, discusses the Neo-classical economic interpretations of child labour in the Industrial Revolution and analyses its building intensification of exploitation during this period. The chapter also looks at the protective legislation in place within society and determines how effective it was in actually limiting the existence of child labour.

In this introduction to Part 1: The Theoretical Context of Child Labour Research, Michael Lavalette addresses the main trends in existing literature on child labour and the unanswered questions that surround it. He foregrounds the discussion carried out in the following first two chapters, written by himself, and puts forward the aims and intentions of his argument regarding the recent sociological discussion of childhood and child exploitation.

Chapter two, written by Michael Lavallette, focuses specifically on existing literature regarding child labour and the reasons they provide in order to explain the existence of child labour today. It provides a historical context on the development of capitalism in Britain and makes a comment on how changes to production, family form and state social policy in the second half of the nineteenth century shaped the present form of child labour.

Chapter six, written by Stephen Cunningham, provides evidence of the extent and form of child labour in Britain between 1920 and 1970. It assesses the size of the child labour market during this period by processing data found from Internal Home Office material and focuses in particular on the role of state officials in shaping government policy surrounding child labour laws. The chapter also investigates into the role of civil servants, politicians and the effect of recent sociological and historical interventions on the existence of child labour.

Chapter eight, written by Jim McKechnie, offers a cross-cultural comparison of child employment by looking at the existence of child labour in the USA, a country with an advanced economy. McKechnie uses this comparison to stand out from other child labour literature that report only on child labour in countries with under-developed economies. Using major work and research from US psychologists, McKechnie examines research on the developmental impact of employment on children and describes the effectiveness of USA’s control of child labour.

This chapter, written by Michael Lavalette, presents interpretations for the decline of child labour in the period 1880-1920 and addresses the role of the state in the handling of child welfare. Throughout the chapter, Lavallette stresses how dangerous it is to think that the issue of child labour is resolved. Instead, he emphasises the importance of recognising the ways that child labour and exploitation can be restructured and disguised in today’s society.

Michael Lavalette introduces the second section of this text, Child Labour in British History, by presenting the ways in which it deals with the changing nature and form of child employment throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and the reasons for the decline in child labour during this time.This introduction also recognises the section’s discussion of the criticism directed towards the older generations of historians for misrepresenting child labour during the Industrial Revolution and the proto-industrial period.

Michael Lavalette introduces the third and final part of this text, titled ‘Contemporary Issues’. He states that part three deals with the on-going controversy of child labour and in particular assesses the extent and form of child labour in Britain compared to in the USA, therefore providing an analysis of child labour present in countries with ‘advanced economies’.

Chapter four, written by Peter Kirby, looks closely at the effect of child labour on the Mines Act of 1842 and debates the effectiveness of legislative developments on employment practices. The chapter also provides reasons for the decline of child labour in the mines.

Chapter ten, written by Ben Whitney, the educational welfare specialist officer for Staffordshire Country Council, addresses the legal regulation of child labour and criticises the existing legislation. Whitney advocates for a more accessible framework of laws and regulation that will aid children in their transition from childhood (school) to adulthood (work).

Michael Lavalette concludes with a warning that child labour is not a thing of the past. He references historical reports of the issue of child labour and briefly assesses the legal movements and regulations that have been put into place to resolve the issue. Lavalette concludes with a comment on international capitalism, arguing that as a result of its presence in the UK and the USA, child employment and family poverty are forced to overlap.

This chapter, written by David Cornwell, Katya Graham and Sandy Hobbs, addresses the legal regulation of child labour and criticises the inadequacy of laws and regulatory mechanisms attempting to control child labour in Britain. The chapter concludes by arguing for an improvement in regulation in order to protect children at work.