This Chapter Notes That Being a Child Used to Be

question 73

Essay

This chapter notes that being a child used to be very dangerous.Boys as young as four worked as chimney sweeps in long,hot,narrow shafts,often at risk of burning and suffocation.Hundreds of children also died in the streets of New York City every year.Today,despite regular anxiety about children's safety,children are much less likely to die at a young age from work- or transportation-related deaths.Why is this the case,and what is the sociological significance of this shift?

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Definitions:

Government Sector

The part of the economy that is controlled by the government, including all public services and governmental agencies.

Unionization

The process by which workers join together to form a union, a collective organization to negotiate higher wages, better working conditions, and other benefits with their employers.

Industrial Categories

The classification of industries or businesses based on common sectors, activities, or products, used for economic analysis and policy making.

Significant Wage Increases

Notable uplifts in employee pay rates, often occurring in response to factors like inflation, productivity improvements, or labor market dynamics.