Industrialization In The Gilded Age

Effects of Industrialization on children rights in the United States

Stephen Crane’s novella Maggie (girl of the streets) addresses Naturalism and social decay in the Gilded Age. although most of the themes in this book communicate the hypocritical nature of the time, the author does nevertheless to bring to our attention their effect. Moreover, some of the major issues corresponding to the period are critically analyzed. They include but not limited to the plight of immigrants, alcoholism and alcohol-related taboos, gender-based violence changing the role of women or African Americans in American society.

He further nonetheless gives uncompromising realism on the level of children’s right abuse rampant during this period (Costin, Karger

Protection rights whereby children are to be protection from all forms of child abuse was never paramount during this period. Crane in the primarily brings this out by his vivid description when Mr. Johnson find his son fighting, he beats him up and orders him to go back home. This is a classical case of child abuse. The use of violence against children is not only eminent in this case of Jimmie and his father. Nonetheless, the way of life of the children has been socialized in violence by abuse. Maggie, on the other hand, suffered a different form of abuse. The second chapter, however, details the family life of Maggie, and the hardship she endures on a daily basis; hers is more of psychological violence from her brothers, mother and the society at large. The prevalence of children in the streets portrays neglect. The children are not only neglected by virtue of being in the streets but also by the fact that the go smoking in the open. This shows the level of exploitation of the children by the businessmen of the

Cranes book puts a spanner in the works. His use of children changes the whole paradigm. He clearly demonstrates that although industrial production increased tremendously, bringing wealth and power to the United States, the effects of industrialization on society were catastrophic especially to the children and on the daily lives and the living conditions of common people. Crate throughout the book paints a vivid picture of what life was like for the average industrial worker.

In fact, the children in his book give a preview of what life was for the children at that particular time. He highlights not only their aspiration anxieties and hopes but their situations. it also show how salvage the people of the time were toward the children n. the children were left with no choice but to fend for themselves. This is in itself the height of abuse and