Project 1

Transcript

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Social Justice

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Tabatha Barbour

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What exactly is child labor and where is it most prevalent?

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Child labor is included in our everyday lives. Child labor affects economies, businesses, but more importantly, children. Child labor is very common outside of the United States. Child labor is prevalent in 198 countries currently. It is most common in Africa, but occurs in other countries such as China, India, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, and South Sudan. Child labor is extremely dangerous. Business owners who practice child labor often abuse the children. Working conditions are not regulated. Children are overworked and extremely underpaid.

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An Introduction to Child Labor

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Why Should We Care?

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We should care because several known brands promote and participate in child labor. We should listen and be informed so we do not buy from brands that produce their goods in this way.  We should also care because innocent  children are being put in serious danger, they are being overworked, and they are being completely underpaid. 

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What is the history  behind child labor?

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Child labor had always existed, but it was amplified by the Industrial Revolution. Child labor affected poverty populations due to children being unable to attend school because they were working. The Great Depression was also a main cause for child labor becoming more popular. Children's tiny size appealed to  employers because their size made it easier to do factory

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jobs that were difficult for adults. 

00:39

Child labor began as early as the colonies. In 1900, 18% of all American workers were younger than 16. Immigration also led to the growing popularity of child labor. 19th century reformers and labor organizers helped shed light on this issue. They wanted to end child labor. Educational reformers went against child labor and protested that a primary school education was necessary for all children. Although laws were passed, there were loopholes in the system that employers got around. School attendance and minimum wage became mandatory. The National Child Labor Committee was established in 1904. From 1902-1915, the progressive reform movement was in full swing. Child labor committees wanted to put an end to child labor through passing state legislatures. The Supreme Court declared child labor laws were unconstitutional. States did not want to ratify laws against child labor. People involved included  agriculture employers, the economy, states, Congress, the government, and reformers. 

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This is our call to action. We do not have much time left to save these children. We need to break the chain of child labor that has gone on far too long, since before the Industrial Revolution. Children are not getting an education but are instead being overworked and underpaid. Sources “2021: International Year for the Elimination of Child Labour.” Child Labour: 2021: International Year for the Elimination of Child Labour, 15 Jan. 2021, https://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/newsroom/news/WCMS_766351 /lang--en/index.htm "2021: Child Labor- Laws and Definitions."  https://www.history.com/topics/industrial-revolution/child-labor#:~:text=Child%20labor%2C%20or%2 0the%20use,long%20hours%20were%20the%20norm. "Statistics and Perspectives of Child Labor." 12 May 2021, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6198592/

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What Does Success Look Like?

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Success looks like terminating child labor  and stabilizing developing countries'  economies. Success will be achieved by  intensifying punishments and laws. Sadly,  success may take centuries to achieve. But, with hard work and dedication, we can save all children from child labor over time. The United States aims to abolish child  labor by 2025, but it is simply unrealistic.  Child labor is difficult to track. Therefore, it will take time to shut down each business that participates.