She+works+hard+for+the+money

Hanh Le n8797366 Tutor: Abbey media type="custom" key="24124984"

This video by Stop the Traffik depicts a scene of seemingly normal sex workers in Amsterdam’s red light district. As various men walk by and gaze at them through the windows, the women break out into a choreographed dance. After the dance, a screen informs the audience of how women are lured to Western Europe under the pretense of a dancing career, only to end up as sex workers.
 * ARTEFACT **

This artefact addresses the issue of deceiving women and forcing them against their will into being sex workers. Many of these women are subjected to physical and emotional abuse, kept in horrid living conditions and observe poor health practices, all of which have detrimental effects on their health and well-being. As the video suggests, society seems to be unaware and, arguably, somewhat ignorant about such a pressing issue, as the social stigmas associated with being a sex worker prevents the demand for a moral panic and hinders progress towards a solution.
 * PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE **

Although different agencies define sex trafficking in various ways, the United Nations' //Trafficking Protocol// (2000) defines human trafficking as //"the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by the means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability, or the giving or receiving of payments, or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation". //
 * LITERATURE REVIEW **

Due to the subversive nature of this public health issue, very limited data exists on human sex trafficking, and accurate statistics on the scope of persons trafficked has not been documented (Hodge & Lietz, 2007; Schloenhardt, Beirne & Corsbie, 2009a). The //Trafficking in Persons Report 2007// (U.S. Department of State, 2007) estimates that between 600 000 to 800 000 people are trafficked internationally every year, of which approximately 80% are female, and of these women, 70% are trafficked for sexual exploitation. However, many experts on the issue note that the only sources of information on the issue are confined to anecdotal evidence, news reports and estimations by humanitarian aid organisations, and much of this information is cyclically cross-referenced between sources, making it hard to identify the original data source (Schloenhardt et al., 2009b; Schloenhardt, Still-Torchia & Jolly, 2012). Despite this, the literature does agree that victims of sex trafficking are mainly from areas of lower socio-economic status, with the most common regions of origin being south-east Asia, Eastern Europe and Africa (International Labour Office, 2005; Lindstrom, 2004; Bekteshi, Gjermeni & van Hook, 2012; Hodge & Lietz, 2007). The most likely destinations are Italy, Thailand, Netherlands, Germany and the United States, all of which are countries where p rostitution is legal or tolerated, or where there exists a large sex industry (Hodge & Lietz, 2007; Hughes, 2000)

Although there is limited research in terms of statistics and broader data, there is a wide variety of anecdotal evidence that emphasises how serious an issue human trafficking truly is. The literature consistently indicates that trafficked women often experience physical, emotional and sexual abuse, are kept in unsafe working and living conditions, are at a higher risk of STD infection, lack adequate access to health care and are more susceptible to drug use, both forcibly and voluntarily (Hodge & Lietz, 2007; Hughes 2000; Schloenhardt et al., 2009b). A wide range of case studies also suggests that, due to their disadvantaged backgrounds, many women seek a better life in other countries and are trafficked under the pretense that they will be married off or given jobs in hospitality, modelling or, as the artefact suggests, dancing, only to end up in prostitution (Schloenhardt et al., 2009b). Not only are victims forced into the sex trade against their will, they are unable to escape due to a range of reasons. Firstly, the victims are considered the property of their captors and are subject to abuse, even death, if they are seen to rebel in any way (Lindstrom, 2004). Being in a different country also brings up the issue of a language barrier, as victims, many of whom are from disadvantaged backgrounds, are often illiterate or have very basic language skills (Hodge & Lietz, 2007). Even from the limited evidence available, i t is clear that human sex trafficking is a significant and growing issue in today's society, and one that needs to be addressed on both a domestic and international scale.


 * CULTURAL & SOCIAL ANALYSIS **

There are many social and cultural factors that have an influence on the human trafficking industry. Firstly, many women who are trafficked are of low socioeconomic status, from areas such as Eastern Europe and South-East Asia, thus seek employment in other countries they believe to have more opportunities. Lindstrom (2004) and Bekteshi et al. (2012) also attribute the sudden increase in international trafficking in the last 20 years to the dissolution of the USSR and the breakdown of communism in the area, as people were finally exposed to the increased wages and job opportunities of Western Europe. This trend can also be seen in countries of South-East Asia, another major source of trafficking (Schloenhardt et al., 2009a).

The patriarchal social structure of these areas also contributes to the issue. Many Eastern European and Asian cultures still conform to traditional gender roles, especially in rural communities, where women are expected to be obedient and and dependent on males (Bekteshi et al., 2012). In some communities, especially in the case of young women, females are still considered to be the property of their male counterparts, and are consequently able to be sold and traded by their owners (Bekteshi et al., 2012).

Another driving factor of sex trafficking is the demand for workers in the sex industry, especially in places such as the Red Light District in Amsterdam (Hodge & Lietz, 2007; Stop the Traffik, 2012). As long as there is demand for sex workers, there will always be a market for illegal sex traffickers, as human trafficking is a high reward, low risk business (Hodge & Lietz, 2007). According the the U.S. Department of State, trafficking is the third largest source of revenue for organised crime, as women are able to earn continual profit for minimal overhead. Prime destination countries are seen as easy targets by organised crime groups, as prostitution is legal or tolerated, and criminal punishment is unlikely (Hodge & Lietz, 2007; Lindstrom, 2007).

Although it is clear that human sex trafficking is a significant public health issue, a major obstacle in addressing this problem is that of public awareness, or lack thereof (Schloenhardt et al., 2012). Due to the underground nature of the sex industry and the social stigma around sex workers, no moral panic exists, so the issue goes unnoticed by the general public (Hodge & Lietz, 2007, Bekteshi et al., 2012). In many places, law enforcement focuses on sex workers as the crime rather than human traffickers, which enables them to continue their business and bring in more workers to replace those who have been caught (Hodge & Lietz, 2007). Some reports have even found that police corruption in many cases enables trafficking to occur, which is indicative of the nature of organized crime in some areas (Bekteshi et al., 2012). Feminist theorists have argued that it is the sexually-based, patriarchal social structures that are inherently driving the sex industry, and should be the focus of interventions if the issue of human sex trafficking is ever to be properly addressed (Bekteshi et al., 2012; MacKinnon, 1999).

It is evident that human sex trafficking is a very complex issue, influenced by a multitude of cultural and social factors that are very difficult to address. From public awareness, to providing support for victims, to addressing the socio-economic influences that drive trafficking, there are a myriad of issues that require intervention on both a micro and macro level in order to ensure that victims of human trafficking are helped in any way possible.


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">ANALYSIS OF ARTEFACT & REFLECTION **

This video artefact is a very effective way in raising awareness for the issue of human trafficking, as it presents it an interesting, informative, and powerful way. Having myself been to places such as the Red Light District and Phuket where the sex industry is very prominent, I noticed that many people see these girls merely as a novel tourist attraction. Not a second thought is given to where these girls have come from, how they got there, and why they are dancing provocatively for the rich tourists to gawk at. Even in the video, men are wolf whistling, honking their car horns and recording videos of the performance, completely unaware of the way in which these women are exploited. You can see by the silence at the end, after having read the information and realising what it was they were really looking at, that the performance was effective in making the audience think twice about what it was they were enabling. I think the video would be just as effective in targeting a female audience, as it brings up the idea that these girls just wanted to be dancers, and as young girls, many of us had that dream. It suggests that any girl could end up there, half-naked, for show in a sex box, lined up along rows of other girls just like her.

This assessment piece gave me the opportunity to properly research and learn about the reasons behind why some people end up in sex work. I, too, have been guilty of judging the girls in those boxes, without knowing the full story behind them. I've realised that, unlike my immediate surroundings, where the people I know have a much stronger sense of agency, others in less fortunate situations are much more likely to fall victim to social structure. It is because of this that I now know how important it is to break down social stigmas and address the underlying determinants in order to help those in need.


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">REFERENCES **

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Bekteshi, V., Gjermeni, E., & Van Hook, E. (2012) Modern day slavery: Sex trafficking in Albania. International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, 32(7), 480-494. doi: 10.1108/01443331211249093

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hodge, D. R., & Lietz, C. A. (2007) The international sexual trafficking of women and children. Journal of Women and Social Work, 22(2), 163-174. doi: 10.1177/0886109907299055

Hughes, D. M. (2000) The "Natasha" trade: The transnational shadow market of trafficking in women. //Journal of International Affairs,// //53//(2), 625-651.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">International Labour Office (2005) A global alliance against forced labour (Report 1B). Retrieved from the International Labour Office website <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">http://www.ilo.org/public/english/standards/relm/ilc/ilc93/pdf/rep-i-b.pdf

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">Lindstrom, N. (2004) Regional Sex Trafficking in the Balkans. Problems of Post-Communism, 51(3), 45-52.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Schloenhardt, A., Beirne, G., & Corsbie, T. (2009a) Trafficking in persons in Australia: myths and realities. Global Crime, 10(3), 224-247. doi: 10.1080/17440570903079931

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Schloenhardt, A., Beirne, G., & Corsbie, T. (2009b) Human trafficking and sexual servitude in Australia. UNSW Law Journal, 32(1), 27-48.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Schloenhardt, A., Still-Torchia, P., & Jolly, L. M. (2012) Be careful what you pay for: Awareness raising on trafficking in persons. Washington University Global Studies Law Review, 11, 415-435.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Stop the Traffik (2012) //Girls going wild in the red light district// [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.upworthy.com/who-doesnt-like-to-watch-half-naked-girls-dancing-these-guys-after-they-see-why-its-happening?g=2&c=ufb1

United Nations (2000) // Protocol to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons, especially in women and children //. Retrieved from the Organisation for Security and Co-Operation in Europe website http://www.osce.org/odihr/19223

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">U.S. Department of State (2007) Trafficking in Persons Report 2007. Retrieved from U.S. Department of State website http://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/2007/


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">COMMENTS **

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> 1) http://healthcultureandsociety2013.wikispaces.com/share/view/64638114

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2) http://healthcultureandsociety2013.wikispaces.com/share/view/64638290