Then I contrasted that with the radically different conditions that children would find themselves in work conditions dominated by adults, who are strangers
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There are people who are so mentally adrift that they either cannot grasp the emotional complexities of the human species - including that of a child, or simply choose to ignore that aspect of reality.
All the warm and fuzzies about working with momma or grandpa...no harm, no foul. All the glorious stories about loving to work at 8 years of age are humorous after speaking with dozens of exJW's, who as kids had to go out to 'work' door to door and gave up their childhood because they had to - and who often look back now on those days as wasted opportunity for social interaction, growth and opportunity.All situations are different - we could no doubt find a great many tragic stories to equal all the warm and fuzzy ones. A child picking berries alongside their mother, is not the same as a child being dropped off at a farm alone to pick berries.
How many times do we have to hear another story about a kid who is molested or raped by those in a position of power, to understand that a child often feels powerless? Elders, priests, parents, neighbors etc..it doesn't matter what label we put on the figure, the position is of power. How many times do we hear of people abused as children but who keep that secret because they are fearful, or guilted, or shamed? The vast majority of those abused never come forward, so the numbers you hear are low.
All children don't work because they choose to. Many work because it is expected, just like going door to door was expected. You obey your parents, you obey your elders.
Just like there are women abused daily in the workplace who say nothing - there are children abused daily and the workplace could provide just another opportunity for it to happen. sammies