Protecting Childhood from Economic Exploitation: A Sociological Reading

Abstract

This article sheds light on the economic exploitation of children from a sociological perspective. It highlights the gap between international and national legal texts intended to protect children, and the reality of everyday practices in developing countries. The article analyzes the overlapping factors responsible for this gap. These include socio-economic conditions, cultural factors, weak monitoring mechanisms, and the absence of genuine political will.
The article also identifies the sociological characteristics of children who are most vulnerable to exploitation. These include children from poor and marginalized families, children who are not enrolled in school, children from broken families, children with disabilities, and girls engaged in hidden domestic work. The article concludes by proposing a number of mechanisms and measures that may contribute to the effective implementation of child protection procedures against economic exploitation.