Human Trafficking (DMST): Macro-Analysis
Johannes Kieding
Social Policy
Human Trafficking Research Paper
Professor Everett
SSW
Causes of Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking (DMST), Macro-Analysis
There are structural and individual theories as to the cause of Domestic Minor Sex trafficking, henceforth referred to as DMST. Individual explanations tend to focus on the idea of demand, and finds factors such as men 's sexual impulses and desire for monetary profits as leading contributing causes of DMST. The following paragraphs, however, will focus on the structural explanations of why DMST occurs on the scale that it does. The marco-level ideas as to the causes of DMST all fit within a broad category of a culture of tolerance. The US culture of tolerance includes patriarchy and sexism, a glorification of pimping and prostitution, as well as a highly sexualized youth culture. …show more content…
Kimberly Kotrla, in “Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking in the United States,” mentions the demand for DMST “results from the normalization and promotion of commercial sex across America” (2010, p.
183). Kortrla continues to list the various venues through which this culture of tolerance is promoted: “clothing, songs, television, video games, and other forms of entertainment” (2010, p. 183). Kortrla references, among other examples, a free online game called Keep Pimpin ', where the idea is that you get to “slap your hoes,pimp the streets, kill the competition, and ally with your friends to take the pimp world by storm.” She also refers to song lyrics that glorify and promote sexual exploitations and the objectification of women. In line with Kotrla 's thinking, children 's clothing exists, a particular type of pants come to mind that has words such as “juicy” on the back-side, and “pink” on the front side. The idea here is that young children are being commodified as sex
objects. Karen Hoover, in “Determinants of Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking,” mentions pornography as a major contributor to a culture of tolerance of DMST. Citing statistics from surveys given to men who have purchased sex, she writes, “Several men cited using prostitution as a means to release and re-enact scenes from pornography” (2011, p. 15). Hoover goes on to say that some men, especially in the military, use commercial sex as an initiation rite, a rite of passage into manhood. Purchasing sex has always been closely associated with soldiers at war. Along with the military, Hoover also lists the state and the institution of tourism as promoters of DMST: the state 's economy benefits indirectly from DMST, and tourism benefits very directly, acting as a supplier: “...hotels, internet service providers, and the tourism industry... intersect with sex trafficking [which] allows these groups to participate legally in the booming economic crime and consequently receive notable proceeds in return for promoting trafficking” (2011, p. 15). The desire for profit and the structural poverty that dominate many areas of the US contributes to substantial motivation for pimps or prospective pimps to engage in DMST. Most pimps will make exponentially more money through DMST than they could through legitimate trades corresponding to minimal education levels. Monica O 'Connor and Grainne Healy, in “Gender-Based Domination Promotes Prostitution and Sex Trafficking,” write that gender inequality is a central factor in the normalization of commercial sex. They also maintain that factors such as poverty make many women and children, especially from racial minorities, more vulnerable to be exploited by the commercial sex industry. Speaking directly to the role of patriarchy and sexism as it relates to the ills of the commercial sex industry, they write, “We cannot dissociate prostitution from other forms of male violence against women and girls... In Patriarchy, male violence against women is one of the most powerful tools used to keep women and girls in a state of oppression and slavery” (O 'Connor and Healy, 2006, p. 67). Though these authors go on to speak about causal factors such as “racism, colonization, global economic inequalities and of course racism,” their main point is that the patriarchal system is the main cause of DMST and the commercial sex industry in general (p. 67). The macro-level explanations for why DMST occurs can all be said to fall under the broad umbrella category of a culture of tolerance. Specific explanations include patriarchy and sexism, a glorification of pimping and prostitution, as well as a highly sexualized youth culture, promoted through clothing, song lyrics, music videos, TV shows, video games, movies, and other forms of entertainment. The most important cause of the problem is a combination of individual demand fueled by a culture of tolerance and promotion.
References
Kotrla, K. (2010). Domestic minor sex trafficking in the United States. National Association of Social Workers, 181-187.
Hoover, K. (2011). Determinants of domestic minor sex trafficking (Master 's thesis). May
O 'Connor, M., & Healy, G. (2007). Gender based domination promotes prostitution and sex trafficking. In What are the causes of prostitution? New York: Greenhaven Press.
Social Policy
Human Trafficking Research Paper
Professor Everett
SSW
Causes of Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking (DMST), Macro-Analysis
There are structural and individual theories as to the cause of Domestic Minor Sex trafficking, henceforth referred to as DMST. Individual explanations tend to focus on the idea of demand, and finds factors such as men 's sexual impulses and desire for monetary profits as leading contributing causes of DMST. The following paragraphs, however, will focus on the structural explanations of why DMST occurs on the scale that it does. The marco-level ideas as to the causes of DMST all fit within a broad category of a culture of tolerance. The US culture of tolerance includes patriarchy and sexism, a glorification of pimping and prostitution, as well as a highly sexualized youth culture. …show more content…
Kimberly Kotrla, in “Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking in the United States,” mentions the demand for DMST “results from the normalization and promotion of commercial sex across America” (2010, p.
183). Kortrla continues to list the various venues through which this culture of tolerance is promoted: “clothing, songs, television, video games, and other forms of entertainment” (2010, p. 183). Kortrla references, among other examples, a free online game called Keep Pimpin ', where the idea is that you get to “slap your hoes,pimp the streets, kill the competition, and ally with your friends to take the pimp world by storm.” She also refers to song lyrics that glorify and promote sexual exploitations and the objectification of women. In line with Kotrla 's thinking, children 's clothing exists, a particular type of pants come to mind that has words such as “juicy” on the back-side, and “pink” on the front side. The idea here is that young children are being commodified as sex
objects. Karen Hoover, in “Determinants of Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking,” mentions pornography as a major contributor to a culture of tolerance of DMST. Citing statistics from surveys given to men who have purchased sex, she writes, “Several men cited using prostitution as a means to release and re-enact scenes from pornography” (2011, p. 15). Hoover goes on to say that some men, especially in the military, use commercial sex as an initiation rite, a rite of passage into manhood. Purchasing sex has always been closely associated with soldiers at war. Along with the military, Hoover also lists the state and the institution of tourism as promoters of DMST: the state 's economy benefits indirectly from DMST, and tourism benefits very directly, acting as a supplier: “...hotels, internet service providers, and the tourism industry... intersect with sex trafficking [which] allows these groups to participate legally in the booming economic crime and consequently receive notable proceeds in return for promoting trafficking” (2011, p. 15). The desire for profit and the structural poverty that dominate many areas of the US contributes to substantial motivation for pimps or prospective pimps to engage in DMST. Most pimps will make exponentially more money through DMST than they could through legitimate trades corresponding to minimal education levels. Monica O 'Connor and Grainne Healy, in “Gender-Based Domination Promotes Prostitution and Sex Trafficking,” write that gender inequality is a central factor in the normalization of commercial sex. They also maintain that factors such as poverty make many women and children, especially from racial minorities, more vulnerable to be exploited by the commercial sex industry. Speaking directly to the role of patriarchy and sexism as it relates to the ills of the commercial sex industry, they write, “We cannot dissociate prostitution from other forms of male violence against women and girls... In Patriarchy, male violence against women is one of the most powerful tools used to keep women and girls in a state of oppression and slavery” (O 'Connor and Healy, 2006, p. 67). Though these authors go on to speak about causal factors such as “racism, colonization, global economic inequalities and of course racism,” their main point is that the patriarchal system is the main cause of DMST and the commercial sex industry in general (p. 67). The macro-level explanations for why DMST occurs can all be said to fall under the broad umbrella category of a culture of tolerance. Specific explanations include patriarchy and sexism, a glorification of pimping and prostitution, as well as a highly sexualized youth culture, promoted through clothing, song lyrics, music videos, TV shows, video games, movies, and other forms of entertainment. The most important cause of the problem is a combination of individual demand fueled by a culture of tolerance and promotion.
References
Kotrla, K. (2010). Domestic minor sex trafficking in the United States. National Association of Social Workers, 181-187.
Hoover, K. (2011). Determinants of domestic minor sex trafficking (Master 's thesis). May
O 'Connor, M., & Healy, G. (2007). Gender based domination promotes prostitution and sex trafficking. In What are the causes of prostitution? New York: Greenhaven Press.