Parents' and Children's Attitudes on Child Labor: Insights from Research in Turkey and Tajikistan

^{Purpose: Approximately 11% of children ages 5 to 17 engage in child labor globally. The negative impact of child labor on children’s physical and emotional well-being, as well as educational trajectory is well documented. Children’s developmental trajectories are primarily shaped by caregivers. However, the literature is limited in understanding how child labor is perceived by the families that are at risk for child labor. Given the risks associated with child labor, it is critical to understand family processes that underlie child labor decisions in order to develop more comprehensive and effective interventions. Hence, this study looks at families’ perceptions on child labor in Turkey and Tajikistan, two countries impacted by child labor. The purpose of this presentation is to compare family narratives around child labor from both countries to identify similarities as well as country-specific differences.} 

^{Method: The data for this comparative study comes from two separate qualitative studies conducted in Tajikistan and Turkey. The data in Turkey was collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews with 27 Kurdish low-income migrant mothers and participant observations. In Tajikistan, in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 child laborers and 12 of their parents from rural and urban areas as part of the narrative study. The data from both studies were analyzed in their original language using components of grounded theory and narrative methods, and then translated in English. Peer debriefing and member checking were used to establish rigor in each study. The findings from each study were compared and analyzed to identify similarities as well as divergences.}

^{Results: While caregivers were the main decision-makers in regards to which children should work in both countries, in some cases, children also requested to work. Similar themes on the importance of child gender, age and birth order in decision-making regarding work were found in both Turkish and Tajikistani contexts. While gender played a more critical role in determining where children could work in Turkey, in Tajikistan male children were more likely to work and contribute to family income and girls’ contribution was more in-kind (agricultural, housework, sweatshops). Age and birth order were also significant factors in the process of decision-making regarding child labor. Oldest children were considered first for child labor in both contexts. However, circumstances unique to each child, mainly academic success and motivation, were taken into account. A bidirectional relationship between child labor and education was noted where lack of academic motivation also led families to send children to work. Financial need was the primary reason for child labor. Yet, other factors such as preventing risk-taking behavior, learning vocational skills, gaining independence also emerged from the data in both countries.}

^{Conclusion: Study findings have implications for policy and programming targeting child laborers and their families. While poverty alleviation strategies should continue, interventions should also target multiple systems, including schools and communities. After school programs and drop-out prevention programs for children at-risk of dropping out, should be incorporated in schools. Developmentally-appropriate paid internship opportunities for the summer or the weekends should also be considered.}