Gender Roles In Human Trafficking

To what extent does gender affect the individuals involved in human trafficking?

Human trafficking is said to be the third-largest criminal activity in the world. According to the Department of Homeland Security human trafficking is defined by “A modern day slavery and involves the use of force, fraud or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act” Trafficking especially in women and girls is noting uncommon. But in new acquiring dimensions men are also being subjected into human trafficking.

The three most types of human trafficking are forced labor, sex trafficking and debt bondage. Prostitution is considered commercial trafficking which is also sex trafficking .Surprisingly some men, women and teens do it willingly.

Many people often forget about the male community but they are just as important as women and children. Men are now commonly being exposed to this epidemic. “Males make up five percent of trafficking victims and forty percent of labor trafficking victims” (Ekko. "Polaris Project: The National Human Trafficking Resource Center." Polaris Project: The National Human Trafficking Resource Center. N.P., n.d. Web. 11 Mar. 2017). Sex trafficking for men and boys are hidden reflecting many cultural taboos in many parts of the world. Men are always seen as the aggressors towards women which is usually the case but we have to be able to recognize the bigger picture. The bigger picture is that both genders involved in trafficking should be recognized as an issue equally and

This tactic is used by media that generates empathy towards women and giving the perception that men are condescending and cruel. This creates a social barrier between men and women. But these media outlets do not emphasize the fact that human traffickers prey on the vulnerable. The media has an immense role in mobilizing and shedding light to help prevent these inhuman acts. The media often pushes human trafficking to the side focusing on the more “important”news. When human trafficking is actually brought to the attention of the public it is reflected inaccurately. The public is misinformed due to its furtive nature. In places like Ethiopia child sex trafficking does not have an impact in the community. People in the community have little to no empathy or tolerance for the children involved in human trafficking. Child victims are antagonized and looked down upon. (Hoot, Tadesse and Abdella 2006). Even when a child victim is found dead there still is not enough public awareness that will adequately reflect on how poorly children are treated. The tainted image of the media is causing a great deal of misconception throughout the