This essay starts with a short overview of the situation street children are facing in Brazil now as then. The terminology of who belongs to the group of “street children” is discussed as well as facts and statistics collected by several researchers. Underlying causes which force them to leave home are analyzed on the macro and micro level. In addition, problems faced by street children in their daily lives are discussed. The second part of this essay is focused on the societal and governmental responses to the situation street children experience. The conclusion aims to answer the question how the gap between legislation and reality can be closed at the best and gives a short outlook to further research options.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Street children in Brazil
2.1 Differing definitions of street children
2.2 Statistical data on the situation of street children in Brazil
2.3 Underlying causes
2.3.1. Micro level
2.3.2. Macro level
2.4 Problems faced by street children
3 Responses to the situation of street children
3.1 Societal solution approaches: The death squads
3.2 Development of the legal situation in Brazil
3.3. Solution approaches
Objectives and Topics
This academic work explores the complex reality of street children in Brazil, examining the socio-economic factors that force children to leave their families and the various legislative and societal responses to their situation. It aims to bridge the gap between formal legal protections and the harsh day-to-day survival of children living in poverty-stricken urban settings.
- Analysis of the shifting definitions of "street children" over recent decades.
- Examination of micro and macro-level causes for the abandonment of homes.
- Discussion of violence, criminalization, and the impact of large-scale events on street children.
- Review of government and non-governmental interventions and social welfare policies.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1 Differing definitions of street children
During the 1980s, there was a superficial categorization of all children seen on urban streets as “street children” (cf. Rizzini et al. 1992: 1). They were treated as a uniform category without differentiating between children who live on the streets or just work there and return home at night. Some of those important aspects were not analyzed and the research tended to see street children in a vacuum instead of relating their current status to socio-economic factors or to their families (cf. ibid.: 8). By late 1980s and beginning of 1990s, a shift in the research focus took place. Different categories of street children were distinguished. It was important if children see the street as their home or still maintain family ties (cf. ibid.: 8). A fuller understanding of the phenomenon took place.
After 2000, it was commonly accepted that those children never uniformly fit into static groups and the label “street children” was seen as a socially constructed category which in reality does not form a clearly defined, homogenous population (Consortium for Street Children 2012: 1). There were enormous variations in children's experiences and overlaps between groups: some children live on the street all the time, some occasionally or seasonally, others move between home, street and welfare-shelters (ibid.). The complexity of establishing a consistent definition was acknowledged and it was difficult to obtain precise data or exact numbers (cf. Ferguson 2002: 25). As many children spend all day on the street without parental or guardian supervision but return home at night (cf. de Moura et al. 2012: 1371), it was impossible to categorize and count them properly. A recent definition focuses on the connections children make to the street and relationships formed there: a street-connected child is a child for whom the street is a central reference point and play a significant role in his/her everyday life and identity (Consortium for Street Children 2012: 1).
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter contextualizes the prevalence of extreme social inequality in Brazil and defines the scope of the study regarding the marginalized status of street children.
2 Street children in Brazil: This section details the academic evolution of the definition of "street children," presents statistical evidence of their living conditions, and analyzes the root causes of child displacement at both micro and macro levels.
3 Responses to the situation of street children: This chapter critically reviews the societal reactions, including the violent phenomenon of death squads, and evaluates the development of Brazilian legislation and institutional efforts to support these children.
Keywords
Brazil, street children, social inequality, poverty, human rights, child labor, urban migration, death squads, child welfare, social policy, marginalization, street-connected, institutionalization, legislative reform, urban poverty.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper examines the difficult living and working conditions of street children in Brazil, analyzing why they leave their homes and how society and the state respond to their situation.
What are the primary themes discussed?
Central themes include the impact of extreme social inequality, the failure of traditional family structures, the criminalization of poverty, and the effectiveness of legal frameworks designed to protect children.
What is the main objective of the research?
The goal is to provide a comprehensive overview of the situation of street children and to analyze whether legal and political measures are successfully addressing the root causes of this phenomenon.
Which scientific methods are utilized?
The author performs an extensive literature review and synthesis of data provided by international organizations, social research institutions, and previous academic studies to construct a theoretical and factual framework.
What does the main part of the work cover?
The main part focuses on the definitions of the target group, statistical analysis, the identification of underlying causes for street migration, and a detailed critique of both violent societal responses and formal social welfare programs.
Which keywords best describe the work?
Key terms include Brazil, street children, social inequality, human rights, urban poverty, and social policy.
How did the perception of street children change after the year 2000?
Researchers began to move away from rigid, static categories to a more nuanced understanding, recognizing that "street children" are a diverse group and that the "street" often serves as a central reference point for their identity and daily survival.
What is the significance of the "death squads" mentioned in the text?
The "death squads" represent a brutal, negative societal response to the perceived criminality of street children, functioning as a form of "social cleansing" that reflects the lack of effective state protection for the most vulnerable populations.
- Citation du texte
- B.A. Michaela Harfst (Auteur), 2013, Street children in Brazil. Daily struggles in a complex social setting, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/215759
