Exploitation of Teenage Beggars in Lahore, Pakistan

Abstract

Objective. The current study qualitatively explored the phenomenon of exploitation of teenage beggars. It sought to understand the nature and impact of exploitation and the coping strategies adopted. Gender differences were also investigated.

Method. Semi structured interview technique was used to collect data. Eight participants (four boys and four girls) were selected through convenience sampling. Teenagers who were being forced by their parents to beg and lived with them in homes were taken. The collected data was analyzed through thematic analysis.

Results. After conducting rigorous interviews, first superordinate theme, “deprivation and disempowerment” accompanied by subthemes i.e., lack of fulfillment of basic needs, no control over earnings, and absence of love, was developed. Second superordinate theme was emotional and physical abuse including subthemes sexual exploitation, physical abuse, social and psychological maltreatment. Inferior social status appeared as third most important matter of concern for beggars. Further, participants reported passive coping styles like fatalism, venting emotions, sacrificing etc. to cope out this trauma. The findings revealed that both boys and girls were deprived of their basic needs, stigmatized, and abused by their parents and society. To some extent, boys were in better condition than girls.

Conclusion. Begging status has adverse consequences on teenage beggars as their parents have med it a profession and they are using their children for this nasty purpose. Moreover, it is not a matter restricted to any gender; it is the matter of exploitation of human beings. Government needs to take proper steps to save the adolescents from any kind of exploitation; otherwise, the future of teenage beggars will be darker than present.