Street children's use of social support against everyday abuse in Bangladesh

ABSTRACT

This qualitative study explores how the estimated 1–3 million street children of Bangladesh cope with the verbal, physical, and sexual violence inflicted on them on an almost daily basis. Drawing on a sample of 75 street children ages 10–17 in the capital city of Dhaka, the study is based on multiple interviews with participants. Interview data and social network theory yielded insights about the types of violence endured and how age, gender, and location impacted risks faced by street children. The study also highlights the complex and varied roles that social networks and group solidarity, as well as the actions of individual peers, play in the survival of this vulnerable population.

KEYWORDS:

• abuse
• job exploitation
• social networks
• social support
• street children

Funding

This research was partially supported by Armin Scheitacker of Germany and the Fahs Beck Foundation of New York, New York.