Essay on The Immorality of Child Labor - 1221 Words

The Immorality of Child Labor Child labor is a serious moral issue. There have been many controversial debates over whether it should be legal or not. Two different viewpoints on the subject exist. Many argue that child labor is morally wrong and that the children should not work, no matter how poverty stricken their family might be. Advocates and major corporations that support child labor argue that it is good because it gives poverty-stricken families a source of income. Child labor first appeared with the development of domestic systems (when people became civilized). It was widely practiced in England, America, and other countries during the 16th-18th centuries. Children were paid very little for the dangerous†¦show more content†¦His ?Master? gave him no money for the long hours he worked. He also stated that he was ?hit again and again.?(Kielberger, 6.) Children who are forced to work also miss out on life and their chance for a good education. ?In Pakistan, I talked to a boy making bricks. He had been sold into labor by his grandfather to pay a debt. ?Would you like to go to school I asked him. ?What is school he asked me.? (Kielberger, 5.) In India, only 64% of males and 39% of females are literate. When children are forced to work at a young age, they can also develop serious health problems. ?Health problems are compounded for children because they are more susceptible than adults to the types of illnesses and injuries associated with occupational hazards.? (Parker, http://www.busph.bu.edu/Gallery/Introp.html.) Child labor is necessary in some places because poor families need the extra income this will bring. Poverty is the reason many children go to work. In India, 37% of the urban and 39% of the rural populations live in poverty. (Unknown.) Studies have ?revealed a positive correlation- in some instances, a strong one- between child labor and such factors as poverty.? (Melara-Kerpelman, 1996.) Also, a poll taken of child laborers revealed that 63.74% said the reason they worked was poverty. (Unknown.)Many parents make their children work because there are no alternate sources of income. In many economically depressed countries where childShow MoreRelatedSociological Criticism of William Blake’s Poetry Essay1506 Words   |  7 Pagespoetry collections Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience illustrate Blake’s despair regarding the unjust and unequal society of 18th century England. In â€Å"The Chimney Sweeper,† Blake expresses his anger at the late 18th and 19th centurys use of child labor in urban England. In â€Å"London,† Blake illustrates the d epressing class oppression prevalent in the streets of the city. Often considered by scholars as the greatest pioneer of the Romantic movement in English literature, Blakes poetry consistentlyRead MoreThe Life of Slaves926 Words   |  4 Pagesbasic rearing of a child, the child sees their parent as the main authority figure and source of social influence. Being born into the institution of slavery is rife with contradictions and confusion about who is the authority in their lives. Adults maintained clear perspective of the immorality and manipulations within slavery, but children found themselves in a paradox of inconsistency in trusts and truths. Candid conversations about the harsh realities of slavery, the immorality of people holdingRead MoreEngland was a society dominated by children. During the reign of Queen Victoria one out of three of1300 Words   |  6 Pagesfifteen. Child labor was a prominent issue, because there were no systems to ensure the safety of children. During the start of the industrial revolution, there was a â€Å" high demand† for labor (Robson 53). Many families moved from rural areas to new, industrialized cities. After a while things weren’t looking as â€Å"promising† as they did before (Boone 23). In order to maintain, families had to put almost all of their family members to work. This led to a rise in the number of child labor. Children wereRead More2.0 Impacts of HIV/AIDS 2.1 Economic - Healthcare 2.1.1 Human Capital Good health is an element of600 Words   |  3 Pages2.0 Impacts of HIV/AIDS 2.1 Economic - Healthcare 2.1.1 Human Capital Good health is an element of human capital and is an essential ingredient for a productive population. HIV/AIDS influences economic growth by dropping the accessibility of labor. Devoid of proper nutrition, health care and medication is available in developing countries, whereas a large number of people are falling victim to AIDS. 2.1.2 Increased Demand for Health Care People living with HIV/AIDS will not only be unable to workRead MoreThe During The Progressive Era989 Words   |  4 Pagescompanies (p631). The third president of the Progressive Era, Woodrow Wilson based his campaign on the theory that less government control of business and a federal minimum wage for workers would eliminate the poverty issues in America (Wilson On Labor primary document). In 1914 Wilson’s most important antitrust legislation, The Clayton Antitrust Act strengthened the government’s ability to dismantle corporations by identifying specific business practices that defined monopolies. (p 636) The politicalRead MoreThe Novel Tess Of The D Urbervilles1411 Words   |  6 Pages In the novel Tess of the D Urbervilles, Hardy places several barriers in the way of Tess and her quest for love. One of the barriers Tess encounters is religion, this barrier is not only associated with Angel but with Sorrow her, illegitimate, child. Another barrier that arises in the novel is class divisions between Tess, Angel and Alec. Tess feels she is not worthy of Angle due to his superior intellect and his middle-class background. whereas Alec abuses his higher class status to subdue andRead MoreCharles Dubois Souls Of Black Folk Essay1496 Words   |  6 Pagesmobility of the workers in Dougherty County was greatly limited by the labor market available in the county. Most of his group members were sharecroppers and were denied the privilege of economic prosperity due to unfair labor practices implemented by plantation owners. For this reason, â€Å"†¦due to the difficulty of earning sufficient to rear and support a family and it undoubtedly leads to sexual immorality† (98). He adds that this immorality is not illustrated through prostitution but rather illegitimacyRead MoreSummary Of Niebuhrs Moral Man And Immoral Society1375 Words   |  6 Pagesdoes not want to child to be so far away from her. Gilkey realizes that â€Å"she could not react to anything except in a morally responsible way- even when actually she was fiercely defending the interests of her own family against those of others in the community† (Gilkey 86). Although Mrs. White knows that the housing solution is just, she can comfortably say no to giving up her space on the moral grounds of protecting her son from bad influences. This justification of immorality by using reason supportsRead MoreObstacles Faced By Oliver Twist1073 Words   |  5 Pageshas been around since the creation of the world and the beginning of humanity, and it continues to affect many generations, specifically children. Children in poverty do not get a chance to improve their intelligence with education like an average child from a developed country. Children in poverty are often forced to work to support their families. This obstacle continues to affect them to have lower education and remain poor. According to the business dictionary, the term â€Å"social class† is definedRead MorePro Choice Is Not Murder968 Words   |  4 Pageswhy bring a child into this world if a person is not fully capacitated to provide for that child. I d like to address the issue of Pro-Choice, and explain why Pro-Choice is not murder, like many people see it as. Pro-Choice as I determined is agreeing on the issue of abortion, believing that a person has the right to choose whether to have a baby, or abort it. Many disagree due to Pro-choice, believing that all babies should be born, however they never put thought to issues a child will face later