Family Work
Hine worked very hard to get to know the children he was interviewing and photographing in order to gain their trust, but also get as much information about their lives as possible. He worked with various families and children to get a broad spectrum of areas that were being overrun by child labor. Hine was shocked to find out how the parents of these children felt about them working these hours and in those dangerous conditions.
Many families moved from rural areas into the cities in hope for a better life, but found the high price of living and much longer hours of work not what many expected. Parents often encouraged, if not forced their young children into working jobs in order to help support the families.1 Hine often found mothers he talked to very proud of their children for working so young and learning how to be independent, but also somewhat sad that their childhood was being taken away from them. It was very rare to find a family with students who attending a full day school, Monday through Friday.
Many families moved from rural areas into the cities in hope for a better life, but found the high price of living and much longer hours of work not what many expected. Parents often encouraged, if not forced their young children into working jobs in order to help support the families.1 Hine often found mothers he talked to very proud of their children for working so young and learning how to be independent, but also somewhat sad that their childhood was being taken away from them. It was very rare to find a family with students who attending a full day school, Monday through Friday.