Journal of Iranian Social Studies

From the Street to the Narrative: An Analysis of the Lived Experiences of Child Laborers in Tehran

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Fatemeh Ghorbanali 1
Zahra sadat Pour seyyed aghaei 2

1 M.A. in Family Counseling, Refah University College, Tehran, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Counseling, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran.

https://doi.org/10.22034/jss.2025.2052860.1885
Abstract
The phenomenon of child labor is recognized as one of the major social challenges in Tehran, with significant consequences for the individual and social lives of these children. The present study aims to analyze the lived experiences of child laborers in Tehran. The target population included 10 to 12-year-old child laborers enrolled in the Sobhe Royesh School in Tehran, with Iranian and Afghan nationalities, selected through purposive sampling. The sample size reached saturation after 15 participants. This study employed a qualitative approach based on the descriptive phenomenological method. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using Giorgi and Giorgi’s method. The findings, categorized into 9 main themes and 25 sub-themes, revealed that child laborers experience diverse forms of harm. The main themes included harmful interaction patterns, deprivation of social capital, maladaptive behavioral patterns, family system disruption, deprivation of educational capital, bio-economic vulnerability, physical exhaustion, sexual abuse, and economic exploitation. The results highlight the necessity of formulating comprehensive support policies, enhancing collaboration between governmental and parivate institutions, and raising public awareness about the rights of child laborers.
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  • Receive Date 11 February 2025
  • Revise Date 08 May 2025
  • Accept Date 30 June 2025
  • First Publish Date 30 June 2025
  • Publish Date 21 November 2024

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