Poor girls, boys, and adolescents. A social reality

Abstract

This article focuses on a social reality that has occurred, is occurring, and will continue to occur in South America, and indeed, in almost the entire world: the despair and anguish that characterize the lives of minors who endure cruel hardships considered a form of modern-day slavery, without the rights guaranteed to them by most laws worldwide. This research, presented using an analytical and hermeneutic approach, highlights the grave situation of this societal group, which is hindering the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals because this delicate and crucial issue has not been addressed with due seriousness. This equates, according to some assumptions regarding this unfinished delineation of integration, to the increasing weakening of the family institution as its members are forced to find ways to alleviate their situation, including children and adolescents who are pressured to contribute some income instead of attending school and “wasting time” there, thus childishly juggling the disruption of their childhood or youthful future.