Child Labor In Ender's Game By Orson Scott Card

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Recommended: Child labor laws during the industrial era

According to the International Labour Organization, “the term “child labor” is often defined as work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development. It refers to work that: is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful to children.” Child labor is a problem in America as well as around the world. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) of 1938, also more widely known as the child labor laws, were enacted to ensure that when young people work, the work is safe and does not jeopardize their health, well-being or educational opportunities. Orson Scott Card’s award winning novel, Ender’s Game, helps us realize just how generally damaging child …show more content…

Genius boy Andrew “Ender” Wiggin was born to save the world. From the small age of five, Ender had a monitor in his neck that watched him and his actions closely. After getting into a fight, the ISF decides that Ender meets their standards and is good enough for the program. At the age of six, Ender is abruptly taken away from his family on Earth and is sent to Battle School to kill and fight. He is in charge of saving all of humanity from these buggers. In this manner, Ender developed many mental issues due to being taken away from his family at such a young age and being put under loads of pressure. In result, Ender ends up hurting people which makes him feel morally wrong and abused. As for the other characters, they are also victims of child labor. Being forced to battle many times a day, having to sleep for a short amount of time and then learn about wars, battle etc.…., repeat, wash, and dry. Ender winds up realizing that he is being used and manipulated. He goes through many nervous and mental breakdowns caused by the stress, pressure, and isolation from Battle School, Command School, and the Bugger War in general. Additionally, the other characters of Ender’s Game were greatly affected by the act of child labor. Take for example, Petra Arkanian, one of the girls at battle …show more content…

In the article Child farmworkers in America, it states that the report, "Fingers to the Bone: United States Failure to Protect Child Farmworkers," charges that many young people ages 13 to 16 work 70 to 80 hours a week and risk pesticide poisoning, heat illness, injuries and lifelong disabilities. According to the article "Report says child farmworkers are working under dangerous conditions", the title itself ties directly into Ender’s Game. In the novel, these children are taken at young ages to work, train, and learn. The article also states "U.S. laws should be changed to protect the health, safety and education of all children." In this article, child labor is focused on farmworkers. They are exposed to pesticide poisoning, injuries and heat illness, etc.…. They are forced to forgo their education to work the fields. What child should have to sacrifice their own education and well-being to be treated like a peasant? Why should a child have to sacrifice their own education and well-being at all? It’s our right to an education. It’s our right to have a say in what we do and who we become. The United States Department of Labor clearly states that “the most sweeping federal law that restricts the employment and abuse of child workers is the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).” Child labor is not as big as an issue here in the United States compared to international countries. Here in the United States of America,

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