Human Trafficking in the USA

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Table of Contents

Abstract
Introduction
Research Questions
Hypothesis
Literature Review
Methodology
Analysis and Findings
Conclusion
References

Abstract

The given paper is devoted to one of the most topical social stigmas of modern society that is human trafficking. Despite numerous attempts to eliminate the problem, there is a tendency towards further growth in the number of cases related to human trafficking. For this reason, the paper delves into the selected issue with the primary aim to analyze the central concerns and causes for the emergence of new problems in the given domain. The work also contains the literature review devoted to the discussed aspect to reveal existing trends and improve the understanding of the concept and its current state in the USA. This section is followed by the description of the chosen methodology that is utilized to analyze human trafficking and current tendencies along with the future of the problem. Findings are summarized at the end of the paper.

Introduction

Human trafficking has always been an ongoing issue for society. For a long period, certain individuals had been a good that guaranteed a stable income for traffickers. Slavery was a beneficial business that satisfied the need for a cheap workforce. However, the development of the society and rise of humanism resulted in the reconsideration of the attitude towards this phenomenon and the complete prohibition of all forms of human trafficking. Unfortunately, despite this fact, the current state is far from an ideal one in the coherent society. By the latest reports, 24.9 million people were victims of human trafficking all over the world (UNODC, 2016). For this reason, there is an obvious need for an in-depth investigation of the issue with the primary aim to improve the situation.

In the USA, the situation also remains complicated. According to the existing legislation, human trafficking is defined as the form of slavery that involves illegal smuggling and trading of people with different purposes including forced labor and sexual exploitation (UNODC, 2016). All kinds of this phenomenon are prohibited in the USA, and there is a set of laws that are introduced to improve the situation in the sphere. However, federal agencies report that there is a negative tendency towards the deterioration of the situation as more and more people become forced to work or provide some services; in 2016, 57,700 people became the victims of human trafficking in the USA (US Department of State, 2016). This number includes both citizens of the state and immigrants. Regarding the scope of the problem, it becomes obvious that the in-depth investigation is the key to the improved understanding of the issue and the creation of an efficient solution to reduce the number of cases and eliminate this social stigma.

Research Questions

Therefore, the given paper suggests several research questions to guarantee the comprehensive investigation of the problem of human trafficking in the USA and its current state. These are

What are the main forms of trafficking?
What are the central causes for the growth in the number of trafficked people?
What are the primary motifs of trapped individuals?
What ways do traffickers use to find potential victims?

Utilizing these research questions, we will be able to investigate the problem from different perspectives and outline its central aspects. At the same time, these will help to predict the future of the selected phenomenon and speak about possible ways to improve the situation in the sphere.

Hypothesis

The paper also utilizes the hypothesis that comes from the peculiarities of modern society and existing trends that impact people, their choices, and motifs. For this reason, it is formulated in the following way:

The growth of human trafficking in the USA is preconditioned by the complicated social conditions, need for new sources of income, increased number of disadvantaged groups, and the rise of the Internet and social media that is used as one of the primary tools to find potential victims.

The suggested hypothesis reflects existing tendencies in the selected sphere and provides the list of key factors that might impact the scope of the problem and its further development. For this reason, the literature review and the analysis are introduced to prove or refute this statement and outline the basic aspects of human trafficking in the USA.

Literature Review

All sources devoted to human trafficking are united in the opinion that the problem is one of the central concerns of the modern age as it poses a serious threat to peoples security, dishonors individuals, and deprives them of any rights to protect themselves. As for the USA, the National Human Trafficking Hotline reports that in 2017, 8,759 cases were determined (HTS Staff, 2018). These represent about 10,000 individual victims, 5,000 potential traffickers, and around 1,500 companies connected with the issue (HTS Staff, 2018). The statistics are dissatisfying as there is a 13% increase if compare to 2016 (HTS Staff, 2018). Moreover, only 35% of survivors inform agencies about the negative experience they had (HTS Staff, 2018). It means that the actual number is much higher and there is a need for some immediate actions to improve the situation.

Analyzing the problem, one can admit that particular groups face a higher risk of being trafficked if compare with others. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Latin people are the most represented category (1,230 cases in the USA) (US Department of State, 2016). It is followed by Asians, White, and African-Americans (US Department of State, 2016). Additionally, young women and girls comprise 80% of all identified survivors (US Department of State, 2016). This fact evidences the persisting tendency towards the victimization of females because of their more vulnerable position to use them in the sex industry or some other spheres (US Department of State, 2016). Children also comprise a significant part of this group (20%). In such a way, there is credible evidence of the complexity of the problem and its further sophistication.

There are three central types of trafficking that are reported in the USA. These are sex, sex and labor, and labor ones (Polaris, n.d.). By the Polaris (n.d.) report, 6,244 of all survivors were engaged in the sex industry (escort services, residential, and outdoor solicitation). 1, 274 individuals performed domestic work, worked in the agricultural sphere, or peddled (Polaris, n.d.). Finally, the smallest group had to provide services in the massage business and strip clubs (Polaris, n.d.). These numbers show that unfortunately people are still considered a good that can be sold to satisfy some sexual desires. At the same time, the stable and high income peculiar to this sphere increases the demand for young and attractive individuals who can become sex workers. That is why this type remains the most popular one.

Traditionally, researchers outline central risk factors that increase the risk of becoming a victim. These are closely connected with a persons social status and his/her position in society. The recent migration or relocation is the first aspect that attracts traffickers as this group of people might experience numerous hardships and might need money (UNODC, n.d.). Addicted people comprise another category as they can be easily managed by using drugs or other substances to make them work (Polaris, n.d.). Homeless youth face a high risk of being trafficked (UNODC, n.d.). By the statistics, runaway teenagers more often become victims if compare with normal ones (Polaris, n.d.). Finally, people with mental concerns can be trafficked because of their vulnerability caused by their health status and inability to understand the current situation.

Investigators also find the most common recruitment tactics that are used by malefactors to attract a victim and ensure that he/she will have to use their services. Statistics show that job offers and marriage propositions are two central methods utilized to find individuals who will later be exploited in labor or sexual spheres (Polaris, n.d.). The efficiency of these approaches is explained by the fact that usually, people with particular financial or private problems are interested in obviously risky job or marriage offers. Correctly realizing this fact, traffickers provide false promises regarding the salary, working conditions, or potential partner to attract an individual and guarantee the high level of his/her interest in a deal (Musto, 2016). In such a way, the efficiency of these two methods rests on the tendency towards the complication of the existing social intercourse, rise of unemployment, and problematic migration.

It becomes obvious that traffickers prey on individuals vulnerabilities to increase the efficiency of recruiting. Nichols (2016) states that their ability to analyze people and select the most efficient method rests on the spread of technologies, the Internet, and social media. The given platform provides limitless access to personal data that can be used for different purposes. In the majority of cases, individuals who face particular problems, look for a job, or want to marry, use websites that can be easily found (Nichols, 2016). They also provide private information regarding their social status, sources of income, family. That is why, malefactors can increase the efficiency of their methods by selecting the approach that will guarantee the best possible outcome (Nichols, 2016). At the same time, the utilization of this method results in the increased complexity of discovering cases of this sort because of the existence of thousands of websites with similar services and their problematic investigation.

Fortunately, there are some ways to obtain help and improve the situation. Investigators of the problem admit the fact that interference of the family might scare traffickers and minimize a threat. At the same time, interaction with the law enforcement and criminal justice systems can also serve as the guarantee of the low risk and the ability to avoid all traps (Belles, 2015). Furthermore, numerous researchers state the access to social services can also reduce the number of crimes of this sort and result in the improvement of the situation in the sphere.

Cogitating on the rise of human trafficking in the USA and the central causes, Archer (2013) looks for some interrelation between the state of the society and the scope of the problem. Analyzing the number of unemployed people, the annual income of disadvantaged population groups, and the lack of social protection, he concludes that these factors could be considered the root causes for the growth of peoples dissatisfaction with their current status, the emergence of particular needs, and their contacts with traffickers (Archer, 2013). Additionally, a vulnerable position of migrants also contributes to their victimization and becoming one of the risk groups.

Nevertheless, there is another problem related to human trafficking in the USA. The fact is that the majority of the population remains misinformed about the current state of the problem and its real scope. Media plays one of the central roles in it. Due to the false media representation, Americans do not realize the fact that they can become trafficked and will need help to become free (“Human trafficking in the US: Misconceptions vs. reality,” 2018). Moreover, almost all anti-trafficking campaigns disregard the fact that women of color comprise the bigger part of all victims because of their traditionally high vulnerability and the lack of social protection (“Human trafficking in the US: Misconceptions vs. reality,” 2018). That is why the USA still has a problem with the correct identification and determination of human trafficking.

Methodology

Thy hypothesis mentioned above and the suggested research questions demand a particular research method to guarantee the comprehensive investigation of the issue. In such a way, the qualitative research method is chosen. There are two variables in the paper. The number of trafficked people can be considered a dependent variable as it is affected by numerous factors like gender, social status, guarantees, level of income, and family. These are considered the independent variable as they impact the state of the problem in the USA, its further development, and peoples readiness to use services that promise good jobs or husbands. The utilization of this method demands the use of the information in the literature review to compare data and analyze it.

Analysis and Findings

Having collected data related to the discussed problem, we can observe the tendency towards the further deterioration of the situation in the sphere. There is statistical evidence of the growth in the number of trafficked people if compare with previous years. Women still comprise the bigger part of all victims (80%). At the same time, particular ethnicities face a higher risk of being forced to work. The findings also prove the hypothesis as investigators admit the direct correlation between the number of victims and the gradual deterioration of their social status, low income, absence of social protection, and the rise of the Internet that is used as one of the central tools to find individuals with particular problems.

Conclusion

Human trafficking remains a serious problem in the USA. Statistics show that about 50,000 people become victims annually, and the majority of them are women. The increased importance of the issue can be explained by the tendency towards the growth of unemployment rates, and the problematic access to social protection. In such a way, there is an obvious need to introduce some measures to improve the situation and reduce the number of victims who suffer from false promises, humiliation, exploitation, and even slavery. Improved access to social services and better living conditions can be considered key factors needed to reconsider the approach to the problem and help people in need.

References

Archer, D. (2013).Human trafficking in America. Web.

Belles, N. (2015). In our backyard: Human trafficking in America and what we can do to stop it. New York, NY: Baker Books.

HTS Staff. (2018). 2017 human trafficking statistics.Web.

Human trafficking in the US: Misconceptions vs. reality. (2018). Web.

Musto, J. (2016). Control and protect: Collaboration, carceral protection, and domestic sex trafficking in the United States. Oakland, CA: University of California Press.

Nichols, A. (2016). Sex trafficking in the United States: Theory, research, policy, and practice. New York, NY: Columbia University Press.

Polaris. (n.d.). Growing awareness. Growing impact. Web.

UNODC. (n.d.).UNODC report on human trafficking exposes the modern form of slavery. Web.

UNODC. (2016). Global report on trafficking in persons. Web.

US Department of State. (2016). Trafficking in persons report. Web.

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