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It is a point that kids are seen as more grown-up in other cultures. All over Cairo I saw boys of 13 or so working. They fetched the tea, led the camels, etc. There was also a younger girl, maybe 16, who helped show us costumes at one of the factories, now that I think of it. She was a member of the owner's family.
I don't want to romanticize, but in a culture where lots of businesses are locally owned, it's not unusual to see family members helping out at a young age. It's part of the family business. Even here in the states, I've been in family-owned restaurants where young kids helped in the kitchen, filled water glasses, brought breadsticks, etc. I used to pay my daughter to stuff envelopes and file when she was about 9, she enjoyed working with Mommy.
But...does that attitude toward children carry over into dangerous or unpleasant work environments or outside of the family? Are the kids sweating long hours somewhere on our behalf? I don't know.
I agree that it's more likely to be happening with our jeans and T-shirts than our costumes.
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