Meanings and interpretations of child labor in rural and urban contexts

Abstract

The paper seeks to understand the problem of rural and urban child labor using an interpretive perspective based on the meanings and conceptualizations of child labour in in the rural municipality of Tello and the city of Neiva, both located in the department of Huila, Colombia. The methodological approach used is an approximation of grounded theory that is configured with three categories: social capital; recognition; and the capabilities approach. The authors identify differentiations in the meanings constructed by children regarding the meaning of paid child labor, domestic work and the dynamics and links that form part of their home and school environments.