Homeland Security (n.d.) defines human trafficking as the use of coercion, deception, or intimidation to get some labor or profit making sex act. Human trafficking is present-day slavery that gained significant consideration for its adverse impacts on society. Trends in globalization and multinational migrations have continued to enlarge economic inequalities...
Homeland Security (n.d.) defines human trafficking as the use of coercion, deception, or intimidation to get some labor or profit making sex act. Human trafficking is present-day slavery that gained significant consideration for its adverse impacts on society. Trends in globalization and multinational migrations have continued to enlarge economic inequalities and intensify the vulnerability of oppressed populations to various forms of human trafficking. Ross-Sheriff and Orme (2015) indicate that primary forms of human trafficking today include labor trafficking, war and slavery, and sex trafficking. Since the social work profession is committed to decreasing poverty, empowering populations at risk, and eradicating gender-based suppression, social workers must be conversant about human trafficking at macro and micro levels. Social workers also need to understand human trafficking as a significant global threat from three ethical perspectives, including systems theory, empowerment theory, and feminist theory.
The field of social work borrows theories from various fields, including sociology, psychology, and medicine to explore multiple issues within the practice. Systems theory, empowerment theory, and feminist theory can be explored in relation to human trafficking and human rights violations. Systems theory postulates that a variety of factors that work together as a system influence a person’s behavior. In the social work perspective, systems that influence a person are physical and social entities: communities, family, culture, or workplace. System theory allows social workers to perceive a person in the environmental context and understand the various system that perpetuates or will enable a problem. In relation of human trafficking, systems theory evaluates risk factors for human trafficking to allow social workers to correct ineffective components of the system that have a positive behavior on the victim’s behavior. XXXX identified substance use, history of abuse and neglect, poverty, marginalized identities, and homelessness as risk factors that perpetuate human trafficking. Social workers use this theoretical system to observe and analyze systems that contribute to the welfare of the human trafficking victim and work to strengthen those systems. For instance, focusing on cultural or institutional change, advocating for social change, and providing role models, therapy, and support systems help develop a support system for a human trafficking victim.
The empowerment theory in social work requires social workers as agents of change to empower their clients. Empowerment is the capacity of a person, group, or community to expand control of their situations and achieve goals, thus working towards maximization of quality of life. In relation to human trafficking, empowerment proposes a unique framework for developing interventions and creating social change. Empowerment suggests the perspective that human trafficking exists as a result of unequal access or distribution of resources, and therefore social workers need to help human trafficking victims by working for their rights. Social workers at the macro and mezzo levels can create a supportive community environment that provides health and social services to trafficking victims to enhance and nurture their coping skills toward reintegration into society. Social workers as the mezzo level can assist foster community ties and social integration skills among survivors. This can be achieved by enhancing self-presentation, developing an expectation of confidentiality, and helping survivors overcome self-doubt and self-blame. Institutions should also work together with communities to avoid discrimination, bias, and stigma associated with trafficking victims. The empowerment theory calls for a post-trafficking situation that comprises diverse dimensions of social reintegration; in addition to emotional trauma, physical health, and financial support, this framework advocates for human rights and change in political and social relationships.
The feminist theory is a comprehensive trans-disciplinary framework that seeks to understand the experiences, roles, and values of people based on gender. Sexual exploitation is one of the three key determinants of human trafficking, and therefore, feminists question if prostitution or the exchange of sex for commercial value is or can be voluntary. Radical and neo-abolitionists perspectives such as Marxist and radical feminism define trafficking women as structural and institutional sexism and paternalistic ideas that define men’s social control and domination of women. Both Marxist and radical feminism postulates the oppression of women as a result of economic dependence on males continues to be an overarching determinant of human trafficking. Under this perspective, abuse of sex and class entails various forms of prostitution and pornography. Social workers need to integrate feminist perspectives into social work practice as paradigmatic ways to understand the patriarchal culture and its masculine ethos. The alliance between feminism and the social work profession helps end the victimization of trafficked women. This can be achieved through macro social work where social workers can help trafficking survivors by intervening in an extensive system, including advocating for social policy change.
The major determinants of human trafficking are pertinent to frameworks of migration and ‘push and pull factors.’ Ross-Sheriff and Orme (2015) indicate that various push factors that increase the probability of being transferred include inadequate opportunities of employment, poverty, displacement as a result of conflicts, economic and political instability, and limited opportunities for education. Pull factors are situations that increase the probability of victims finding themselves in human trafficking, including higher wages, demand for cheap labor, and increased life opportunities. Social workers at the macro-level of social work are required to help victims of human trafficking by intervening in large systems. For instance, they can lobby to change laws, advocate for social policy change, or organize state-wide activist groups. At the micro-level, the social work practice entails engaging with victims or families to reduce the impact of human trafficking. For instance, social workers are required to help victims find healthcare, appropriate housing, and social services.
Conclusion
Social workers should apply a multisystem approach to reducing human trafficking and its impact on society. The social worker should be involved in prevention programs by educating the community, providing services, and facilitating agency-based responses. A social worker should be ready to recognize common health problems such as depression, fractures, and post-traumatic stress and empower survivors by creating a supportive community environment. The feminist perspective provides social workers with a chance to identify the patriarchal culture and work towards ending women victimization.
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