Question

What does the prevalence of child labor in the 1800s tell you about how society viewed children at the time?

Answer 1

Traditional medieval society saw the child badly and even worse the teenager. At this time there was no room for the family, but in fact what did not exist were the feelings and values. The family had no affective function, its main mission was: the conservation of goods; the common practice of a trade; mutual help between men and women, since they could not survive on their own; even in cases of crisis, the protection of honor and life.

The child was simply seen as a miniature adult, so he should perform the same jobs as adults, often harder jobs because it was understood that being younger than adults had more energy and workforce.

The view of the child and family generally changes little by little, so children gain rights and are seen as they really are in society.