Child Labor

CATHRYNE L. SCHMITZ is Associate Professor of Social Work at the University of Southern Maine, Lewiston.ELIZABETH KIMJIN TRAVER is Assistant Professor of Social Work at the University of Southern Maine, Lewiston.DESI LARSON is Associate Professor of Adult Education at the University of Southern Maine, Lewiston.

An unprecedented number of children around the world are working today. This volume is a must-have, up-to-date survey for student research. In the 15 examined countries, poverty, lack of education, gender inequity, the demands of the global marketplace, and easy sex tourism are key factors contributing to the child labor crisis. Each chapter depicts the child labor scene in a particular country, along with detailed conditions, the history of the problem, the present state of child labor, political policies, and social aspects, and the ultimate outlook.Child labor is a complex social and political issue with a long and evolving history. The phenomenon of child labor, including prostitution, has been a focus of debate especially in the last two centuries and continues to generate fierce reactions. An unprecedented number of children around the world are working today. This volume is a must-have, up-to-date survey for student research. In the 15 examined countries, poverty, lack of education, gender inequity, the demands of the global marketplace, and easy sex tourism are key factors contributing to the child labor crisis. Each chapter depicts the child labor scene in a particular country, along with detailed conditions, the history of the problem, the present state of child labor, political policies and social aspects, and the ultimate outlook.The scope of the topic is wide, and basic definitions of what constitutes child and labor vary from country to country. International laws and conventions promoted by labor and human rights groups are establishing new norms to counteract harsh cultural and economic realities, but these and similar local laws are hard to enforce. These issues are explored, and vignettes from the children's point of view add a human-interest angle to the narrative.

The conditions and issues of child labor are explored in a survey of 15 countries.

Series ForewordIntroductionBangladesh by Shelley Feldman and Desi LarsonBrazil by Elizabeth KimJin TraverChina by Xiaojun Tong and Shizhen LuThe Dominican Republic by B. J. Bryson and Tina BrysonGeorgia by Nona TsotseriaGuatemala by David KeysHonduras by Raul Zelaya and Desi LarsonIndia by Desi LarsonIran by Reza JalaliMexico by David Carey Jr.South Africa by Catherine StakemanSouth Korea by Elizabeth KimJin TraverThailand by Lacey SloanThe United States by Pamela PierisZimbabwe by Otrude MoyoIndexAbout the Editors and Contributors