Human Sex Trafficking

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Human Sex Trafficking

Human sex trafficking is an enormous human rights issue across the globe. Sex trafficking “uses violence, threats, lies, debt bondage, and other forms of coercion to compel adults and children to engage in commercial sex against their will.”[1] It is clear that human sex trafficking is an affront against human rights across the globe; however looking at its demographics gives one key insight into how the structure operates and continues to exploit certain groups of people, which offer a lot to a sociological perspective.

The picture shows a young girl having her mouth covered by what seems like a man’s hand (along with the words “Sex Trafficking” in the frame).  It hints at how vulnerable people are often singled out and brought into the deplorable business of forced sex work. According to the Polaris Project, a group dedicated to spreading awareness and stopping human trafficking, traffickers frequently target “runaways and homeless youth, as well as victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, war, or social discrimination.” Beyond creating its own moral issues, human sex trafficking capitalizes on those who society has already seemed to neglect. It takes advantage of people with already stifled life chances and exponentially worsens their condition of living. Traffickers essentially act as agents of social deprivation in the way they “prey on those with few economic opportunities and those struggling to meet basic needs.”(U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services)[2] Interestingly, but not surprisingly, a few of the shared characteristics of the victims of human sex trafficking include, “poverty, young age, limited education, lack of work opportunities, lack of familial support, history of previous sexual abuse…” (Dept. of Health…) Although no social class or general group is immune to falling into the grasp of sex trafficking, it is clear that those with less chances and education, like an oppressed lower class, face a larger risk of being exploited by traffickers. Additionally, traffickers try to target the most vulnerable group in the United States: (According to the Polaris Project and Dept. of Health) “Minors are among the most vulnerable populations,” Traffickers deceive, manipulate, and coerce minors into the sex trafficking world. The Polaris Project reports that in New York City minors are brought into the forced sex work world as early as 14 and 13 years old for both boys and girls (including transgender youth). This trend is alarming in that the people we must protect the most and who have already suffered is continually being exploited in our society to satiate some disgusting and carnal pleasure.

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[1] "Sex Trafficking." Polaris. N.p., 2015. Web. 01 Nov. 2015. <https://polarisproject.org/sex-trafficking>.

[2] Clawson, Heather J., Nichole Dutch, and Lisa Goldblatt Grace. "Human Trafficking Into and Within the United States: A Review of the Literature."OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR PLANNING AND EVALUATION. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2010. Web. 02 Nov. 2015.