This thesis provides a multi-method – historical, quantitative, qualitative, and jurisprudential – socio-legal case study of the unionization of agricultural workers in British Columbia. Agricultural employees have access to the Labour Relations Code of British Columbia. A historical examination of exclusion of agricultural workers from labour relations legislation from 1937 to 1975 explores the rationale behind labour relations laws and the political context of the legislative exclusion. Next, economic aspects of BC’s agricultural sector are described, with a focus on employment characteristics and the regionalised nature of agricultural production. Finally, this thesis explains the legal aspects of an ongoing campaign by the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) to unionize migrant and resident agricultural workers. The union organizing campaign shows how legal labour relations processes operate in relation to migrant workers in a sector with low rates of unionization and high rates of precarious and low-paid, dangerous work. / Graduate

Thesis (Ph. D. Com. (Human Resource Management)) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / The purpose of this study was to explore workplace deviance, both constructive and destructive deviance, in order to understand and develop strategies that could be used to address different types of deviant behaviours amongst farm workers. Qualitative, explorative and descriptive research designs within the paradigm of constructivism were utilised to obtain rich and valuable data with regards to the participants’ views, experiences and meanings relating to workplace deviance, through a narrative approach to inquiry. Semi-structured interviews, using a critical incident technique, were employed in order to collect data on both constructive deviant behaviour and destructive deviant behaviour of farm workers from the research participants. Farm workers (n=30) and supervisors (n=9) from three farms belonging to the same conglomerate participated in the study. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the collected narrative data on farm workers’ workplace deviance. The study highlighted that both forms of workplace deviance, namely; constructive and destructive workplace deviance, seem to exist amongst farm workers. The various forms of constructive deviant and destructive deviant behaviours, which farm workers were more likely to engage in were identified. The constructive deviant behaviours were found to assist the farms in realising their objectives, while the destructive deviant behaviours seemed to negatively jeopardise the wellbeing of the farms. The managerial strategies which could be used in the farming sector in order to manage workplace deviance in a more holistic manner were identified. These included practices to encourage workers to engage in constructive deviant behaviours, while discouraging them from engaging in destructive deviant behaviours. The managerial practices revealed in this study may assist farm management to manage farm workers in such a way that may enhance the farms’ competitiveness. KEY CONCEPTS Workplace deviance; Destructive deviant behaviour; Constructive deviant behaviour; Farming sector; Farm workers.

The objectives of this study were to establish the effectiveness of chlorpyrifos in suppressing H. armigera population in oranges and to determine the effect chlorpyrifos had on the health of farm pesticide operators. Experiments showed that by applying chlorpyrifos on orange trees, H. armigera larvae population was suppressed significantly. High fruit yields were realized from trees that were sprayed with chlorpyrifos. Visual observation of personnel involved in pesticide related duties, revealed that judicious use of pesticides was not practiced by farm workers in all three farms. Data analysis from questionnaires, health records and interviews proved that farm workers suffered from illnesses that were pesticide related. It was mainly those farm workers in the age group of 31 to 35 years who suffered the most from pesticide related illnesses. / Agriculture and Life Sciences / M. Sc. (Agriculture)

Farm workers are viewed as a neglected segment in the South African society. This qualitative research study focused on exploring and describing the social needs of farm workers in the Central Koup from the perspectives of samples comprising of farm workers and farm owners and/or managers. The aim was to contribute in finding solutions to address the identified needs through employee assistance programmes (EAPs) as one of the areas that an occupational social worker focuses on. The qualitative data was collected through focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews, and the findings were verified with literature. Tesch’s framework for data analysis (in Creswell, 2003) was employed, and data verification was conducted through Guba’s model (in Krefting, 1991:214-222). The findings indicated that the social needs of farm workers could be addressed through typical EAP-related focus areas such as working- and interpersonal relationships, substance abuse, spiritual well-being, recreation, financial management, conflict management, child care and parenting skills, trauma counselling, and practical assistance regarding transport, housing and accessibility of resources. This research endeavour resulted in recommendations regarding the use of EAPs to address the social needs of farm workers. / M. Soc. Sc.

Summaries in English and Afrikkans / The aim of this thesis is to investigate the labour law position of South African farm workers. For three and a half centuries farm workers constituted the most neglected group in the South African labour force. Consequently, an understanding of their present position can only be obtained by investigating their labour history. As in other parts of the world, farm workers in South Africa held a subordinate position to agricultural employers. Discrimination against black persons added to the inferior socio-economic and political position of South African farm workers. White farmers occupied a strong political position during most of the time under investigation, which enabled them to institute and apply discriminatory legislation and informal methods to overcome labour shortages. The freedom of movement of black people and their access to land were restricted to create a cheap immobile labour force. During the 20th century farmers prevented the inclusion of farm workers in labour legislation by exercising their political influence. Pressure by industrial trade unions and encouragement by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) resulted in the adoption of the Agricultural Labour Act which made labour legislation applicable to farm workers, but precluded them from striking and made allowance for longer working hours than for industrial workers. The new political dispensation facilitated the inclusion of farm workers in general labour legislation without any discriminatory exceptions and land reform legislation now protects farm workers against arbitrary evictions. A bill of rights furthermore guarantees the rights of farm workers which were previously violated. It would superficially seem that farm workers' problems are something of the past. Farm workers, however, remain handicapped in exercising their new rights by historical factors and circumstances peculiar to the agricultural sector. Legal comparison with Ontario and California confirms that legislation alone is insufficient to empower farm workers. It is recommended that the government amend existing legislation to accommodate the special needs of farm workers and that relevant ILO conventions, especially Convention 141 of 1975, be ratified to aid the development of unions for farm workers. This will contribute to the empowerment of and social justice for farm workers. / Die doel van hierdie tesis is om die arbeidsregtelike posisie van Suid-Afrikaanse plaaswerkers te ondersoek. Plaaswerkers was vir drie en 'n half eeue die mees afgeskeepte groep in die Suid-Afrikaanse werksmag. Om die huidige posisie van plaaswerkers te begryp is dus slegs moontlik deur 'n bestudering van die regsgeskiedenis van plaaswerkers. Soos in ander werelddele beklee plaaswerkers in Suid-Afrika 'n minderwaardige posisie teenoor landbouwerkgewers. Diskriminasie teenoor swartpersonehet bygedra tot die sosio-ekonomiese en polities minderwaardige posisie van Suid-Afrikaanse plaaswerkers. Blanke boere het gedurende die grootste deel van die tydperk onder bespreking 'n sterk politiese posisie beklee wat hulle in staat gestel het om diskriminerende wetgewing en informele metodes aan te wend om arbeidstekorte te bowe te kom. Swart persone se bewegingsvryheid en toegang tot grond is beperk om 'n goedkoop immobiele werksmag te vorm. Gedurende die 20ste eeu het boere se sterk politiese posisie hulle in staat gestel om te verhoed dat plaaswerkers by arbeidswetgewing ingesluit word. Druk deur industriele vakbonde en aanmoediging deur die Intemasionale Arbeidsorganisasie (IAO) het gelei tot die Wet op Landbou-arbeid waardeur arbeidswetgewing op plaaswerkers van toepassing gemaak is, maar wat plaaswerkers verbied het om te staak en wat voorsiening gemaak het vir langer werkure as vir industriele werkers. 'n Nuwe politieke bedeling het gelei tot die insluiting van plaaswerkers in algemene arbeidswetgewing sonder enige diskriminerende uitsonderings en grondhervormingswetgewing beskerm plaaswerkers nou teen arbitrere uitsettings. 'n Handves van menseregte waarborg verder die regte van plaaswerkers wat voorheen misken is. Oenskynlik is die probleme van plaaswerkers nou iets van die verlede. Plaaswerkers word egter steeds in die uitoefening van hulle nuwe regte gestrem deur historiese faktore en die eiesoortige omstandighede van die landbousektor. Regsvergelyking met Kalifomie en Ontario het aangetoon <lat wetgewing alleen nie voldoende is om plaaswerkers te bemagtig nie. Daar word aanbeveel dat die regering bestaande wetgewing wysig om voorsiening te maak vir die spesiale behoeftes van plaaswerkers en dat relevante IA0 konvensies, veral Konvensie 141 van 197 5 geratifiseer word om die ontwikkeling van vakbonde vir plaaswerkers te bevorder. Dit sal bydra tot die bemagtiging van en tot sosiale geregtigheid vir plaaswerkers / Law / LL.D.

Thesis (MA (Political Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research examines the extent of participatory democracy, as outlined in government policy, with particular relevance to the experiences of women living on farms in the Greater Stellenbosch Area, Ceres and Rawsonville. The study is based on the notion that effective and meaningful political participation in South Africa has happened at the exclusion of many of its poor and marginalised citizens, in particular poor women living on farms. The research hypothesis holds that various factors relating to the socioeconomic conditions and political orientations of farm women contribute to their low levels of participation in democratic governance. The research question therefore is: what are the obstacles that prevent women living on farms in the Greater Stellenbosch Area, Ceres and Rawsonville from effective and meaningful participation in participatory democracy? In answering the research question, mixed methods of data gathering were employed. Qualitative methods were used, with data-gathering techniques that included modified participant observation, non-scheduled structured interviews, and a focus group discussion. As relatively little is known of the experiences of farm women, these techniques were all geared towards better informing the researcher about relevant questions for the quantitative component of the research in the form of a survey. From the findings, the hypothesis that farm women do not participate in a meaningful process of participation was confirmed. The main findings in terms of the obstacles that prevent meaningful participation can be discussed in three categories. Firstly, the research indicates that farm women feel that since their opinions are not considered by politicians there is no reason for them to participate in governance. Secondly, because of a lack of capacity and resources critical for optimal participation, the women are also disempowered to not participate in politics. Finally, farm women are tired of empty promises and the abuse of power by corrupt officials. Hence they have become very cynical of processes that are supposed to be participatory, but in effect are not authentic at all. In conclusion, although participation is advanced on the basis of the principle of enhancing democracy, the lived realities of farm women cannot be ignored. Therefore, it is vital that participation in politics be seen from a holistic perspective, relying on both democratic principles and the socioeconomic development of farm women. Through political iii participation, farm women must be empowered to become not only democratic citizens, as envisioned by theorists of participatory democracy, but also capacitated people who live a dignified life. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsingsprojek bestudeer die omvang van deelnemende demokrasie, soos uiteengesit in regeringsbeleid, spesifiek met betrekking tot die ervaringe van vroue wat op plase in die Groter Stellenbosch Area, Ceres en Rawsonville woon. Die studie is gebaseer op die argument dat effektiewe en betekenisvolle politieke deelname in Suid Afrika die meerderheid arm en gemarginaliseerde burgers, en spesifiek arm vroue op plase, uitsluit. Die navorsingshipotese is dat verskeie faktore wat verband hou met die sosioekonomiese omstandighede en politieke oriëntasies van plaasvroue bydra tot hulle lae vlakke van politieke deelname. Vervolgens is die navorsingsvraag: Wat is die faktore wat vroue op plase in die Groter Stellenbosch Area, Ceres en Rawsonville daarvan weerhou om effektief en betekenisvol deel te neem aan die politiek? Gemengde metodes van data-insameling is gebruik om die navorsingsvraag te beantwoord. Kwalitatiewe data-insamelingstegnieke sluit in aangepaste deelnemende observasie, niegeskeduleerde gestruktureerde onderhoude en ʼn fokusgroepbespreking. Aangesien relatief min inligting oor plaasvroue bestaan, is die doel met die tegnieke om die navorser beter in te lig om vrae vir die kwantitatiewe komponent, ʼn opname, te skep. Deur die bevindinge is die hipotese dat plaasvroue nie gereeld aan effektiewe en betekenisvolle deelnemende prosesse deelneem nie bevestig. Wat die faktore wat deelname beïnvloed betref, is daar drie verskillende temas. Eerstens dui die navorsing daarop dat plaasvroue voel dat aangesien hulle opinies nie deur politici in ag geneem word nie, daar geen rede vir hulle is om aan die politiek deel te neem nie. Tweedens is plaasvroue as gevolg van ‘n gebrek aan die kapasiteit en hulpbronne noodsaaklik vir optimale deelname ook geneig om minder aan die politiek deel te neem. Laastens is die vroue moeg van leë beloftes en die misbruik van mag deur korrupte amptenare. Gevolglik is hul nou meer sinies, spesifiek oor prosesse wat veronderstel is om deelnemend te wees maar in werklikheid glad nie is nie. Ten slotte, alhoewel deelname aan die politiek bevorder word op grond van die beginsel dat dit demokrasie verbeter, kan die lewensomstandighede van plaasvroue nie geïgnoreer word nie. Hiervolgens is dit noodsaaklik dat deelname in die politiek vanuit ‘n holistiese oogpunt beskou word, gegrond op beide demokratiese beginsels en die sosio-ekonomiese ontwikkeling van plaasvroue. Deur politieke deelname moet plaasvroue bemagtig word om nie net demokratiese burgers te word nie, maar ook gekapasiteerde mense wat n waardige lewe lei.

Thesis (M Social Work)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Wine farms in the Western Cape represent one of the pillars of the region's economy. The social problems that are prevalent among farm workers and their families have evolved over centuries along with the wine industry; the unique set of social, economic, and political conditions affecting rural dwellers in the Western Cape have created a set of challenges impeding a productive future. The interventions at Solms-Delta Wine Estate have empowered the farm community and thus provide a template for social reform. Capacity development initiatives have been central to the farm's management plan. The employment of a fulltime social worker allowed resource gathering to implement social reforms on the farm. The present study investigated the evolution of an approach that encompasses the social development perspective of social work theory. This study is an example of the methods used to bring about stronger community development capacity. The goal of the study was to gain an understanding of the nature of capacity-building initiatives on the wine farm under review from a social development perspective. A review of the historical roots of farm worker subjugation was undertaken to uncover the social dynamic of farm worker community development. Secondly, the study has outlined the political, economic, and legal institutional parameters for rural development. A third strand of the narrative describes the nature of capacity-building initiatives undertaken over the preceding six years, and their impact on the social development of the target community. Finally, the study explored the impact of local capacity development via a semi-structured questionnaire and subsequent interviews with the twenty-one participants. The results of the research outlined in this study provide a number of templates for social work interventions in rural communities on wine farms in the Western Cape. Given the centrality of the wine farm industry in the Western Cape, the success of social welfare initiatives at Solms-Delta delineates road maps for other community-based programmes that can be launched from the lessons of this study. The locality development model, with its emphasis on community input in problem solving provides a framework for countering the unique set of challenges created from the inception of colonialism up to the end of Apartheid social engineering. The empowering environment developed at Solms-Delta offers insight into rolling back historical ills and entitlement issues that bedevil social work practice. Successful community participation requires research into specific community dynamics and the resources to empower one of South Africa's most impoverished social strata. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Wynplase in die Wes-Kaap vorm een van die pilare van die streek se ekonomie. Die maatskaplike probleme wat onder plaaswerkers en hul gesinne voorkom, het oor die eeue heen saam met die wynbedryf ontwikkel. Dit behels die unieke kombinasie van sosiale, ekonomiese en politieke omstandighede met betrekking tot die landelike bewoners van die Wes-Kaap, wat 'n uitdaging stel en 'n produktiewe toekoms belemmer. Die intervensies op die Solms-Delta wynlandgoed bemagtig die gemeenskap op die plaas en bied dus 'n voorbeeld vir sosiale hervorming. Kapasiteitsontwikkelingsinisiatiewe is sentraal tot die bestuursplan van die plase. Die aanstelling van 'n voltydse maatskaplike werker was 'n belangrike addisionele hulpbron om sosiale hervorming op die plaas te bewerkstellig. Die huidige studie ondersoek die evolusie van 'n benadering wat die sosiale ontwikkelingsperspektief van maatskaplike-werkteorie betrek. Hierdie studie is 'n voorbeeld van die metodes wat gebruik kan word om 'n sterker kapasiteit vir gemeenskapsontwikkeling te ontwikkel. Die doel van die studie was om 'n begrip vanuit 'n maatskaplike ontwikkelingsperspektief-oogpunt te verkry van die aard van kapasiteitsbou-inisiatiewe op die wynplaas onder oorsig. Om die sosiale dinamika van die plaaswerkergemeenskap se ontwikkeling aan die lig te bring, het die studie 'n oorsig van die historiese herkoms van die plaaswerkers onderneem. Tweedens, het die studie 'n oorsig onderneem van die politieke, ekonomiese en wetlike institusionele parameters vir landelike ontwikkeling. 'n Derde deel van die navorsing beskrywe die aard van kapasiteitsbou-inisiatiewe oor die afgelope ses jaar, en hul impak op die maatskaplike ontwikkeling van die teikengemeenskap. Ten slotte, het die studie die impak van die ontwikkeling van plaaslike kapasiteit deur middel van 'n semi-gestruktureerde vraelys en 'n daaropvolgende onderhoud met die 21 deelnemers ondersoek. Die resultate van die navorsing soos in hierdie verslag uiteengesit bied 'n aantal voorbeelde vir maatskaplike werk-ingrypings in landelike gemeenskappe op plase in die Wes-Kaap. Gegewe die sentraliteit van die wynbedryf in die Wes-Kaap, lewer die sukses van die maatskaplike welsynsinisiatiewe op Solms-Delta 'n voorbeeld vir ander gemeenskaps-gebaseerde programme wat uit die lesse van hierdie studie kan baat. Die lokaliteit-ontwikkelingsmodel, met sy klem op insette vanuit die gemeenskap om probleme op te los, bied 'n raamwerk vir die stryd teen die unieke stel uitdagings wat ontstaan het met die begin van kolonialisme en tot aan die einde van apartheid bly voortduur het. Die bemagtigings-omgewing wat op Solms-Delta ontwikkel het, bied insig in die rol van so 'n proses vir die bekamping van die historiese euwels en onregte wat die praktyk van maatskaplike werk so belemmer. Suksesvolle gemeenskapsdeelname vereis navorsing na die dinamika binne spesifieke gemeenskappe, asook al die nodige hulpbronne, om een van Suid-Afrika se mees verarmde sosiale strata te bemagtig.

No Brasil há um número significativo de adolescentes que estudam e trabalham. O exercício de atividades laborais inadequadas pelo adolescente coloca em risco as suas possibilidades de conciliar satisfatoriamente estudo e trabalho e as oportunidades de desenvolvimento e aprendizado pleno. Esta pesquisa teve por objetivo investigar como adolescentes, filhos de trabalhadores migrantes, estavam sendo inseridos no mercado de trabalho e conciliavam o estudo e a atividade laboral. Para tanto, foram alvos da pesquisa adolescentes que estudavam e trabalhavam, residentes em um bairro da periferia do município de Guariba/SP, marcadamente habitado por trabalhadores rurais que migraram de regiões pobres do país para trabalhar nos canaviais da região. A pesquisa, de cunho qualitativo, teve a entrevista gravada como a técnica principal de coleta de dados. Foram realizadas 30 entrevistas com adolescentes trabalhadores de ambos os sexos, com idade entre 14 e 18 anos incompletos, estudantes das escolas: Escola Estadual Professora Josephina de Camargo Neves e Escola Municipal de Ensino Médio Professora Izabel Sadalla Crispino, situadas na periferia de Guariba. Realizamos também entrevistas com profissionais do município que puderam auxiliar o nosso entendimento sobre aspectos que envolvem os nossos objetivos. De acordo com os dados obtidos, foi possível detectar que esses adolescentes estavam sendo inseridos no mercado de trabalho em atividades proibidas, demonstrando o desamparo em relação à aplicação da legislação brasileira; exerciam atividades que concorriam contra a saúde física, mental e a moral do adolescente. A maior parte dos adolescentes da pesquisa atuava sem contratos formais de trabalho e apresentou relatos de ocorrências de acidentes de trabalho, sobrecarga e dificuldades para conciliar escola e trabalho. Assim, a situação encontrada junto a esses adolescentes pode ser configurada como empecilho à superação do histórico de pobreza e exploração de seus pais migrantes altamente explorados pela dinâmica do modo de produção capitalista vigente. / In Brazil there is a significant number of adolescents who study and work. The practice of inadequate labor activities by adolescents jeopardizes their chances of successfully reconcile study and work and the development of opportunities and full learning. This study aimed to investigate how adolescents, children of migrant workers, were being included in the labor market and reconciled study and work activities. Therefore were study subjects teenagers who studied and worked, residents of a suburban neighborhood in the city of Guariba / SP, markedly inhabited by peasants who migrated from poorer regions of the country to work in the sugar cane fields of the region. The research, a qualitative one, had the recorded interview as the main technique of data collection. 30 interviews were conducted with adolescent workers of both gender, aged between 14 and 18 years incomplete, students of schools \"State School Professor Josephine de Camargo Neves\" and \"Municipal Preparatory High School Teacher Izabel Sadalla Crispino\", located on the outskirts Guariba. There were also interviews with municipal professionals who could help us on understanding the aspects involving our goals. According to the obtained data, it was possible to detect that these teenagers were being inserted in the labor market in prohibited activities, demonstrating the helplessness regarding the application of Brazilian law; while performing activities that competed against physical, mental health and adolescent morals. Most adolescents in this research worked without any formal employment contracts and reported workplace accidents, work overload and difficulties regarding the reconcile between school and work. Thus, the situation found among these adolescents can be configured as an obstacle to the overcome of poverty history and exploration of their parents - migrant highly exploited by the dynamics of the current capitalist mode of production.

No Brasil há um número significativo de adolescentes que estudam e trabalham. O exercício de atividades laborais inadequadas pelo adolescente coloca em risco as suas possibilidades de conciliar satisfatoriamente estudo e trabalho e as oportunidades de desenvolvimento e aprendizado pleno. Esta pesquisa teve por objetivo investigar como adolescentes, filhos de trabalhadores migrantes, estavam sendo inseridos no mercado de trabalho e conciliavam o estudo e a atividade laboral. Para tanto, foram alvos da pesquisa adolescentes que estudavam e trabalhavam, residentes em um bairro da periferia do município de Guariba/SP, marcadamente habitado por trabalhadores rurais que migraram de regiões pobres do país para trabalhar nos canaviais da região. A pesquisa, de cunho qualitativo, teve a entrevista gravada como a técnica principal de coleta de dados. Foram realizadas 30 entrevistas com adolescentes trabalhadores de ambos os sexos, com idade entre 14 e 18 anos incompletos, estudantes das escolas: Escola Estadual Professora Josephina de Camargo Neves e Escola Municipal de Ensino Médio Professora Izabel Sadalla Crispino, situadas na periferia de Guariba. Realizamos também entrevistas com profissionais do município que puderam auxiliar o nosso entendimento sobre aspectos que envolvem os nossos objetivos. De acordo com os dados obtidos, foi possível detectar que esses adolescentes estavam sendo inseridos no mercado de trabalho em atividades proibidas, demonstrando o desamparo em relação à aplicação da legislação brasileira; exerciam atividades que concorriam contra a saúde física, mental e a moral do adolescente. A maior parte dos adolescentes da pesquisa atuava sem contratos formais de trabalho e apresentou relatos de ocorrências de acidentes de trabalho, sobrecarga e dificuldades para conciliar escola e trabalho. Assim, a situação encontrada junto a esses adolescentes pode ser configurada como empecilho à superação do histórico de pobreza e exploração de seus pais migrantes altamente explorados pela dinâmica do modo de produção capitalista vigente. / In Brazil there is a significant number of adolescents who study and work. The practice of inadequate labor activities by adolescents jeopardizes their chances of successfully reconcile study and work and the development of opportunities and full learning. This study aimed to investigate how adolescents, children of migrant workers, were being included in the labor market and reconciled study and work activities. Therefore were study subjects teenagers who studied and worked, residents of a suburban neighborhood in the city of Guariba / SP, markedly inhabited by peasants who migrated from poorer regions of the country to work in the sugar cane fields of the region. The research, a qualitative one, had the recorded interview as the main technique of data collection. 30 interviews were conducted with adolescent workers of both gender, aged between 14 and 18 years incomplete, students of schools \"State School Professor Josephine de Camargo Neves\" and \"Municipal Preparatory High School Teacher Izabel Sadalla Crispino\", located on the outskirts Guariba. There were also interviews with municipal professionals who could help us on understanding the aspects involving our goals. According to the obtained data, it was possible to detect that these teenagers were being inserted in the labor market in prohibited activities, demonstrating the helplessness regarding the application of Brazilian law; while performing activities that competed against physical, mental health and adolescent morals. Most adolescents in this research worked without any formal employment contracts and reported workplace accidents, work overload and difficulties regarding the reconcile between school and work. Thus, the situation found among these adolescents can be configured as an obstacle to the overcome of poverty history and exploration of their parents - migrant highly exploited by the dynamics of the current capitalist mode of production.

Empathy and cultural understanding of groups that are marginalized due to religious, ethnic or sexual background is essential for peace in schools, neighborhoods, and society at large. Literacy classrooms can be a safe environment in which students can develop their own understandings and empathies. Although worthwhile, much of the research lacks details of student reactions to the people and cultures read about in historical narratives, as well as a focus on pedagogical practices that could give students a deep understanding of the culture. This study analyzed the empathetic responses of 13 sixth grade students to themes presented in a Mexican American narrative text, The Circuit. The purpose of this study was to understand the nature of student empathy and how empathetic responses reflect a rich historical and visual context. Key data sources of this interpretive study included large group discussions, small group discussions, written journal responses, and interviews. The results of this study indicated that students' empathetic responses are varied and complex and seem to reflect familiarity with topics in the text and personal background. Minimizing the cognitive demand of cultural content seemed to be a key pedagogical factor in helping students reach deeper levels of empathy. Suggestions are given for educators looking to teach empathy through cultural texts. Possible areas of research are recommended.