Analysis Of Noy Thrupkaw: Human Trafficking

“Noy Thrupkaew: Human Trafficking is all Around You: This is how it Works” and “Slavery in the fields” both have a common theme. Both of these stories make the claim that human trafficking is widespread across a spectrum of industries and that consumers are fueling the problem. However, this subject is far more complicated than one can see. The first piece brings attention to the gruesome circumstances of human trafficking victims. The second piece is very loose in what it interprets as human trafficking. While both pieces bring to light the issue of human trafficking, Noy Thrupkaew brings to light the true realities of human trafficking: forced labor, captivity, and poor working conditions. Historically, there is no denying that there has

Noy Thrupkaew points this out throughout her speech. In regards to the fishing industry in South East Asia, she points out that the “Thai military were caught selling Burmese and Cambodian migrants onto fishing boats.” This is blatant human trafficking. One party is selling a human being to another party. The sold individuals then have to work on shrimp boats for free in perilous conditions. Closer to home, Thrupkaew claims that “traffickers have forced young people to drive ice cream trucks.” Once again, this is blatant human trafficking. One party is forcing another party to perform labor on their behalf for free. Both of these instances are in line with the first component of human

On page 457, illegal immigrant are forced to stay “in a lightless, heatless shack with no bed.” However, there is no evidence that these people are being treated like the pineapple workers mentioned earlier. Agricultural work is very hot, dirty, and unsanitary work, but that does not make conditions inhumane. Another point that should be made is the fact that these workers actually want to do this work. No one is forcing them to stay on the farm and do it. Therefore, this is clearly not an example of human trafficking. After analyzing each sources use of the three most important components of human trafficking, the better piece is clear. Forced labor, captivity, and poor working conditions were all used as criterion for human trafficking in Noy Thrupkaew’s piece. “Slavery in the Fields” failed to meet even one of these criterion. Human trafficking is a very rampant problem, and we should not reduce it with loose interpretations of what constitutes it. Nov Tramka’s piece did not diminish this topic, but actually empowered its victims by recognizing the tragedies that they