The Connection Between Racial Dimensions and Human Trafficking

Running head: SOCIOLOGY
SOCIOLOGY
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1SOCIOLOGY
Introduction
In the past decade human trafficking has been identified as a major criminal justice
problem in various regions of the world. however while substantial level of attention has focused
on international trafficking domestic sex trafficking of children for minors is not only prevalent
but a significant Nexus tends to exist between human trafficking and race. Reports of
Zimmerman and Kiss (2017) have revealed that an estimated 230,000 to 320,000 miners have
been trafficked annually form and within the United States. Although the connections between
human trafficking and racial prejudice have not been distinct, they are nonetheless undeniable.
The following paper will review literatures regarding the connection between racial dimensions
and human trafficking especially of women and minors.
Literature review
Racism and Ethnic Prejudice Considering Human Trafficking
Stereotypes over and over again influence the distress individuals experience toward
members of the target group in addition to the behavioural patterns they engage in as they
recount to members of the target group. Butler (2015) has opined that human trafficking chiefly
involves the dehumanizing and undervaluing of an individual. Likewise, Zinn (2015) has
claimed that there can be witnessed persistent and extensive stereotypes regrading members of
racially as well as ethnically marginalized groups. These groups tend to contribute to the
tolerability of sex trading, exploiting and discarding them. As per the view of Zinn (2015), these
forms of stereotypes which are formed tend to increase a willingness within an individual to
indulge into unlawful acts of purchasing racially or ethnically marginalized people particularly
women and minors. Furthermore, members of racial and ethnic target groups repeatedly

2SOCIOLOGY
encounter objectification and labelling of being animalistic thus resulting in dehumanization.
These racial and ethnic stereotypes ease the dehumanization route further preceding the bigoted
and illegal act of human or sex trafficking. However, comprehensive studies of Butler (2015)
have revealed that these stereotypes have not only been advocated by individuals but have been
unethically disseminated through media, educational structure in addition to familial racial
socialization courses.
Trafficking Demand Advocated By Racial Obsession and Stereotypes
Research conducted by Barner, Okech and Camp (2014) have revealed that in the United
States, racialized sexual fixation along with racial animus stimulate the market. These markets
witness significant proportion of white men indulging in the act of obtaining commercial sex
with women of colour which also include minors. While Black children have greater tendency to
experience certain level of sex trafficking, other children of colour have been similarly at an
elevated risk in comparison to their white counterparts. Similar opinions have been offered by
Jones (2014) stating that Native Americans specifically develop an association between
colonization and a importunate objectification of native people for prostitution.
According to Barner, Okech and Camp (2014), the sexual stereotypes which have been
applied in order to validate human trafficking has its perseverance even in recent times, as Native
American minors have been experiencing objectifications targeted for sexual exploitation.
Studies conducted by De Shalit, Heynen and van der Meulen (2014) have found that acts of
prostitution of Native American girls have been significantly elevating. Empirical study
conducted on Native women in prostitution by Barner, Okech and Camp (2014) have revealed
that over 75 percent of the women have reported to have engaged into acts of prostitution for the