Photographer Lewis Hine significantly contributed to raise awareness of child labor thorough photos depicted harsh working conditions of children in factories, which helped Americans understand the negative impacts of child labor practices. He worked with the National Child Labor Committee to publicize these images widely and led to the 1928 Child Labor Committee.
Source: National Child Labor Committee, Facts & Figures 1928. Hatitrust.
The facts of states highlighted the greatest percentages of child labor, non-attendance, and percentage of illiteracy demonstrating the correlation of child labor impacting children’s education. These initiatives largely addressed child labor as a general issue and does not focus specifically on its impact on immigrant children. However, establishing age requirements and raising awareness about the detrimental effects of child labor may have influenced some immigrant households’ decisions about whether their children should work, but the specific nuances of how these measures shaped immigrant families’ practices remain less explored. Additionally, others contributed to raising awareness about the harsh conditions and demands of child labor by disseminating information through newspapers and pamphlets, aiming to reduce its prevalence.
The bulletin speaks directly to the farmers and outlines the requirements they have to meet in order to hire a minor. With questions and answers for specific scenarios in regard to school, it informs what actions farmers should take in favor of education. Bulletin speak to all the audience and readers to therefore have impacted immigrant families as well which would have a hand in wether their children worked or not. In addition to bulletin, Zelizer in Pricing the Priceless Child shares the concept of childhood shifting from being seen as a time when children were valuable for their economic contributions such as labor or support for the family to being seen as a period of emotional and symbolic investment. Childhood becomes a socially constructed phase of life where children are considered “priceless” in the emotional sense, no longer merely economic assets, but objects of affection, care, and future hope. This transformation reflects broader societal changes in family and economic structures.
In conclusion, this project takes a focused approach to examining why and how immigrant children participated in child labor during the early 20th century. The literature review and data reveal that financial necessity was a primary driver of child labor’s prevalence among immigrant children. This shaped workplaces such as mills, factories, and farms, as well as afternoon schools, into significant social spaces. Child labor significantly impacted immigrant children’s access to and participation in education, with work responsibilities often hindering or influencing their academic opportunities. Consequently, these experiences shaped unique childhoods for immigrant children, where financial contribution became a defining aspect of their early lives.
Future research could delve deeper into the long-term physical and mental health effects of child labor on immigrant children, including their access to healthcare and recovery resources. Additionally, collecting and analyzing firsthand accounts from the descendants of immigrant child laborers could offer valuable insights into their lived experiences and provide a more nuanced understanding of their perspectives.
