The title of David Jefferess article, Neither Seen Nor Heard: The Idea of the Child as Impediment to the Rights of the Child, is an important clue to his central argument. How can the idea of the child be an impediment to the rights of the child? On pages 75-76 of his article, Jefferess discusses the arguments of a grade 9 Canadian student against child labour.
The Canadian student believes that working children in the Third World are deprived of being a child (75). Although Jefferess admires the students enthusiasm and social concern, his aim in this article is to problematize the false dichotomy I believe she constructs between the apparently carefree, innocent First World child and the oppressed, exploited Third World child (75). This discussion forum requires that you (1) read pages 75-75 and identify and briefly paraphrase Jefferess thesis. (2) Read the subsection In Whose Interests? “Childhood” and the Anti-Child Labour Movement (83-88).
(3) In this subsection, Jefferess examines the arguments of the anti-child labour movement, which maintains that it acts in the best interest of the child. Discuss Jefferess’ central ideas. How are the anti-child labour movement’s concepts of the child and of child labour impediments to the rights of the child? Incorporate direct evidence from Jefferess’ article into your answer. Use in-text citations and include a works cited, according to MLA guidelines.
