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Place Matters: (Dis)embeddedness and Child Labourers’ Experiences of Depersonalized Bullying in Indian Bt Cottonseed Global Production Networks

Author

Listed:
  • Premilla D’Cruz

    (IIM Ahmedabad)

  • Ernesto Noronha

    (IIM Ahmedabad)

  • Muneeb Ul Lateef Banday

    (IIM Ahmedabad)

  • Saikat Chakraborty

    (IIM Ahmedabad)

Abstract

Engaging Polanyi’s embeddedness–disembeddedness framework, this study explored the work experiences of Bhil children employed in Indian Bt cottonseed GPNs. The innovative visual technique of drawings followed by interviews was used. Migrant children, working under debt bondage, underwent greater exploitation and perennial and severe depersonalized bullying, indicative of commodification of labour and disembeddedness. In contrast, children working in their home villages were not under debt bondage and underwent less exploitation and occasional and mild depersonalized bullying, indicative of how civil society organizations, along with the state, attempt to re-embed economic activities in the social context. Polanyi’s double movement was evident. ‘Place’ emerged as the pivotal factor determining children’s experiences. A ‘protective alliance’ of community controls and social power, associated with in-group affiliations and cohesive ties, stemming from a common village and tribal identity, aided children working at home for Bhil farmers. ‘Asymmetric intergroup inequality’ due to pronounced social identity and class differences, coupled with locational constraints and developmental disadvantage, made migrant children vulnerable targets. Social embeddedness influences how child workers are treated because it forces employers to be ethical and not engage in bullying. However, by shifting production to children’s home villages, there is an attempt to obscure the difference between child labour and child work. Thus, the seeds of disembeddedness are sown through the very act of re-embeddeding, potentially hampering future interventions.

Suggested Citation

  • Premilla D’Cruz & Ernesto Noronha & Muneeb Ul Lateef Banday & Saikat Chakraborty, 2022. "Place Matters: (Dis)embeddedness and Child Labourers’ Experiences of Depersonalized Bullying in Indian Bt Cottonseed Global Production Networks," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 176(2), pages 241-263, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:176:y:2022:i:2:d:10.1007_s10551-020-04676-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-020-04676-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Helen LaVan & Wm. Martin, 2008. "Bullying in the U.S. Workplace: Normative and Process-Oriented Ethical Approaches," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 83(2), pages 147-165, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Gazi Islam & Michelle Greenwood, 2023. "Ethical Research in Business Ethics," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 182(1), pages 1-5, January.

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