Social Analysis

Sex trafficking has been an issue that has gone undetected and therefore unaddressed until recent years. The underground nature of the sex slave industry provides cause for the previous lack of perception to the prevalence of such a practice. The Trafficking Victims Protection Act was passed in 2000 to amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961; no act had comprehensively addressed the issue of sexual slavery until TVPA (“Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000-Part 1”, 2005). However, sexual slavery, as stated in the historical analysis, has been an age old practice, and grew considerably in industry in the United States after the Gulf War (“A Short History of Sexual Slavery”, 2007). Why wasn’t legislation passed then to address the issue? It was undetected. Later exposure of businesses profiting from sex tourism sparked advocacy for its victims and thus resulted in the passing of a bill seeking to protect those who are coerced into bondage. Due to the secret and illegal character of the sex slave industry, the author is positive there is still more information yet to be found. Of the information that has been gathered much can be done to protect those who have fallen prey to bondage or who are susceptible to being coerced into slavery.

Contrary to belief, international women who are young and poor are not the only susceptible group to those seeking prey. Men, women, children, U.S. citizens, virtually anyone can fall victim to the skilled manipulation of those in this business (Clawson and Dutch, 2008). There are, however, some distinguishable characteristics of those who have become victims. As one source says, “They often come from countries or communities with high rates of crime, poverty, and corruption; lack opportunities for education; lack family support (e.g., orphaned, runaway/thrown-away, homeless, family members collaborating with traffickers); and/or have a history of physical and/or sexual abuse.” (Clawson and Dutch, 2008, p. ). The demographic is far reaching and varied. According to data collected by the U.S. government, 800,000 to 900,000 men, women and children are trafficked worldwide just in one year. The United States is home to 18,000 to 20,000 of those victims.(U.S. Department of State, 2004)

Slavery, with the help of an American civil war and a continued effort to fight for civil rights, is by and large viewed as a heinous act in the American mind. The market for sex, however, is not viewed by all as taboo. The state of Nevada since its creation in 1861 has supported legalized prostitution in some form or fashion (Rocha, 1999). Though, the selling of sex is not viewed by all as immoral, morally corrupt is an accepted label for those who view human bondage as permissible. Under this pretense, it is safe to say that the status quo would label sex trafficking, if implemented by way of involuntary servitude, dreadful.

The identification of social ill calls for action and TVPA is the fruit of such action. The stated goals of TVPA are to stop the exchange of humans worldwide, to specifically protect and rebuild the lives of those who have been subject to bondage, and to take legal federal action against those who are traffickers (Administration for Children and Families, n.d.). There is considerable idealism in the statement of these goals. Perhaps such broad terms are setting the bill up for scrutiny. For example, even if these traffickers are indicted what sort of measures will be taken to provide them some other form of income? What if they have no other job skill? Should there not be measures to rehabilitate the traffickers as well?

When addressing the specific social implications of this act, one must be aware of the human behavior theory that has instructed means for action. When it comes to social policy the Ecosystems theory has been most frequently cited. The theory focuses on the way systems, whether the most or least complex, interact with, adapt to, and balance one another (Van Wormer, Besthorn, & Keefe, p. 22). It would be wise then to notice traces of this theory behind the posed interventions of this bill.

The bill seeks to prevent future humans from being trafficked by targeting areas of change. Targets may include those on a grand scale or individual scale. The bill may seek to stabilize a faltering economy or it may offer job-skills education to the individual. The act also provides a method of transaction that offers rehabilitation services to victims and specialized job training to government agents. Overall, the government, with this bill, is acknowledging the change that can be made by making positive the interactions between various social systems in society.