Historisk tidskrift 126:1 • 2006
Innehåll (Contents) 2006:1
Uppsatser (Articles)
Barnarbete, barns arbete eller hobby? Stallarbetet i generationsperspektiv
Susanna Hedenborg
Fulltext (pdf)
Summary
Children’s Stable Work in Sweden during the 20th Century
This article has two aims. First, it analyses and explains the
continuity of the work of stable grooms. Secondly, it discusses
and develops a generational perspective and concepts of child
work and child labour.
From a generational perspective it is
obvious that a majority of people working in stables began working
there when they were very young. During the first period of their
working life, children learnt their tasks under the supervision
of adults.
During the 20th century an increasing number of children
have attended school and the time children have spent in school
has also increased. Today it is accepted that theoretical education
is necessary for high status jobs. A hundred years ago practical
skills were an important qualification in the labour market.
Of course, vocational training has not disappeared completely
and in many areas it is still essential. Tending horses is one
such area. This is why it is difficult to use common concepts
from the history of children’s work, such as child labour –child
work. Analysis of children’s work can be developed by introducing
the dichotomies harmful/harmless and instrumental/rearing. Children’s
work can be both harmful and instrumental, e.g. working in mines;
harmful and rearing, e.g. working as a chimney-sweep; harmless
and instrumental, e g sewing T-shirts for a few hours to earn
money for schooling; harmless and rearing, e g doing the family
dishes. The article argues that children’s work in stables has
been accepted, despite the fact that it is physically damaging,
because it has been seen as rearing.
Keywords
stable work, horses, horse racing, child labour, child work,
generation, gender, history
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