Child labor Flashcards
What is child labor
The employment of children in any work
-that deprives them of their childhood,
- interferes with their ability to attend regular school
-is mentally, physically, socially, or morally harmful
Why were children hired
-Cheap labor: They were paid much less than adults which attracted employers who were seeking to minimize costs
-Small size: Their small bodies were an advantage as they allowed them to crawl and climb into tight spaces so they could clean machinery
-Manipulability: Children were seen as more compliant and less likely to protest against poor working conditions
How were children’s working conditions like
-Long hours: Children often worked 12-16 hours a day with minimal breaks
-Dangerous environment: Children were exposed to dangerous machinery without proper safety measures which led to injuries and sometimes death
Poor hygiene and health: Factories were unsanitary which led to the spread of diseases such as Tb and respiratory illnesses
Lack of education: Working long hours left no time for the children to go to school which left them illiterate and with limited opportunities
What was child labor like in mines
-Children were hired to pull and carry coal along the tunnels to the surface
-Children as young as 10 were employed
What was child labor like in factories
-They worked long hours (14-18 hours a day)
-They worked for little pay (Sometimes only paid with food and a place to sleep)
-There were thousands of them working in a single factory
-Smaller children were scavengers which meant they collected small pieces of cotton
-They became crippled from working with heavy machinery
-They were exploited because they had no rights
