Metaphor of Child Labor: Is it always negative? A Narrative Analysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12928/jehcp.v7i3.12015Abstract
This paper explored how children caught up in child labor understand their experiences and positive outcomes. The qualitative narrative analytic approach was used to gather data through interviews with six participants: four students from two public Junior High Schools and two mothers. The study found that some child laborers find positive personal meaning in their suffering which promoted freedom, responsibility and improved school enrolment and educational achievement. Issues such as financial literacy, self-support and economic independence were found to be positive outcomes of their experiences. We concluded that positive personal meanings motivated child laborers to improve on their here-and-now and have hope for the future. We called for community counseling for parents and children to manage their time and funds appropriately and profitably; to help child laborers to have deeper meaning of their conditions and to have positive feelings and outlook on life.
Â
Keywords: child work, child labor, positivity, counseling, narrative analysis
References
Admassie, A. (2003). Child labor and schooling in the context of subsistence rural economy: Can they be compatible? Educational Development Policy Paper 23,167-185.
Agordzo, N. (2013). “Push†and “pull†factors influencing junior high school students engagement in child labor in fishing communities in Ghana. Research on Humanities and Social Sciences,3 (4), 67-75.
Agordzo, N. A. (2011). Socio-cultural context of child labor in fishing communities of Cape Coast: implication for policy and school counseling. Unpublished M.Phil thesis submitted to University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast.
Al- Omoush, A. H. (2008). Socio-demographic profile, level of anxiety, and relationship with the father of working children in the city of Amman. (uunpublished masters thesis), Jordan University of Science and Technology.
Arends-Kuenning, M., & S. Duryea. (2006). The effects of parental presence, parents’ education, and household headship on children’s schooling and work in Latin America. Journal of Family and Economic Issues,27(3), 263-286.
Basu K. & Van P.H. (1998). The economics of child labor. The American Economic Review. 88(3), .
Bryman, A. (2008). Social research methods: (3rd ed.). NY: Oxford University Press.
Creswell, J.W. (2003). Research design: qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods approaches. (2nd ed.). New Delhi, India. Sage Publications.
Donnellan, C. (Ed.). (2002). Child labor. (Vol. 46). Cambridge: Independence Educational Publishers.
Dworetzky, J. P. (1996). Introduction to child development. (6th ed.), New York, NY: West Publishing Company.
Epie, C. (2004). Redefining work and non-work: a qualitative study comparing the literature and women’s subjective experience of work and non-work. Ife Psychologia: an International Journal of Psychology in Africa,12(1), 132-152.
Eshun, R. (Metropolitan Coordinator). (2006, 26th June,). Metropolitan education office: Girl child education unit [Personal Communication] Cape Coast.
Farrell, S.P. & Hains, A. H. (1998). Cognitive behavioural interventions for sexually abused children exhibiting PTSD symptomatology: Behaviour therapy. Journal of Paediatrics Nursing, 29: 241-255.
Fyfe, A. (1989). Child labor. Cambridge, England: Polity Press.
Grootaert, C. & H.A. Patrinos. (1999). The policy analysis of child labor. New York: St. Martin’s Press.
ILO/IPEC, (2004). Support for the implementation of time-bound measures for thee limination of the worst forms of child labor in Ghana. Accra: Ghana.
Kottler, J. A. & Brown, R. W. (1996). Introduction to therapeutic counseling. Boston, USA: Brooks Publishing Company.
López-Calva, L.F. (2002). A social stigma model of child labor, Estudios Economicos,17.
May, R., Angel, E. & Ellenberger, H. (1958). Existence. New York: Simon and Schuster.
Miles, M. B. & Huberman, A. M. (1994). Qualitative data analysis: An expanded sourcebook. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Miller, R. B. (1983). A call to armchairs. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, and Practice,20(2), 208-219.
Omokhodion, F. O., Omokhodion, S. I. & Odosute, T.O. (2006). Perception of child labor among working children in Ibadan, Nigeria., Ibadan, Nigeria: Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Patrinos, H. A. & Shafiq, M. N. (2008). A positive stigma for child labor? The World Bank Human Development Network Education Team Policy Research Working Paper 4697
Patrinos, H. A. & Psacharopoulos, G. (1997). Family size, schooling and child labor in Peru– an empirical analysis. Journal of Population Economics, 15 (1) 47-58.
UNICEF. (2012). Committing to child survival: a promise renewed. New York: University Press.
Schlemmer, B. (Ed.) (2000): The exploited child, London, England: Zed Books.
Whittaker, A. (1986). “Child labor and its causesâ€, Third World Now: Springfield.
Zierold, K. M, Garman, S. & Anderson, H. (2004).Summer work and injury among middle school students aged 10-14 years. Occupational Environmental Medicine,61(4), 518- 522.
