Child Labor: A World History Companion

(Hardback)

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Description

From Dickensian exploitation of orphans to the after-school jobs of American students, child labour continues to generate controversy. Surveying working children from the Industrial Revolution to the present day, this reference guide takes the subject beyond the usual Third World confines as it looks at traditional children's occupations, from chimney sweeps in Victorian Britain to child actors in TV commercials. The book analyzes the problems and psychological and social development of child workers; presents an overview of child labour in specific countries and world regions; surveys strategies to control and eliminate child labour; examines individuals and organizations devoted to improving the welfare of working children; analyzes how various governments, private organizations and courts have dealt with child labour; and focuses on economic and technological issues affecting underage workers, such as globalization.

Reviews

"Child labor has become a hot topic in recent years, as evidenced by the uproar over clothing made by child workers, activism on U.S. college and university campuses, and protests against the recent World Trade Organization meeting in Seattle. The compilers have brought together historical and current information in a convenient format. Recommended for undergraduates beginning research on child labor." - Choice "This will be useful to those wanting to know about child labor and its history as well as current status." - American Reference Books Annual "This volume fills a gap and will be appreciated by reference librarians in academic, public, and high school libraries." - Booklist

Author Bio

James McKechnie is senior lecturer and expert in psychology at the University of Paisley, Paisley, Scotland. Sandy Hobbs is senior lecturer in psychology at the University of Paisley, Paisley, Scotland.