The idea of dehumanization resonates the psychological process of demonizing the enemy, making them seem less than human and hence not worthy of humane treatment. This can be clearly exemplified in human trafficking where human beings are strips of their identity as human. In human trafficking, dehumanization is an underlying psychological phenomenon behind the enterprise. In other words, perceiving men, women and children as less than human and thus denying their humanness (Haslam & Loughnan, 2014) makes it possible to buy, sell, use and transport persons as if they were objects, placing them in the condition of slavery. Here, they are identified as “the other” which makes it so that they are viewed as inferior and deserving of exploitation. Human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation is based on dehumanization that stems from objectification of human beings. A subtle form of dehumanization often occurs during the process of representing a person in the prostitution profession.
Published in Chapter:
Disproportional Influence and Vulnerability Infringement in Human Trafficking: Ethico-Economic Implications
Copyright: © 2022
|Pages: 19
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-7998-9282-3.ch006
Abstract
Human trafficking occurs within the context of widespread objectification and commodification of persons as “products” in economies in which they have little power and sometimes few options for self-determination and self-sufficiency. In both labor and sex trafficking, there is a power imbalance where the trafficker possesses the economic power to treat the trafficked as a commodity and also takes control of all the profits. In the transaction, it is obvious that there is no element of consent, voluntariness, pleasure, or personal desire of the victim. This explains why trafficking in human beings is a ruthless, cynical, and multi-layered form of exploitation where traffickers profits by victimization and make turnover from the adversities, distress, and vulnerability of the trafficked persons. This unscrupulous business practice is such an intricate problem embedded majorly in poverty, marginalization, and ideas of subordination. Human trafficking has legitimized a brand-new element into capitalism which has supplemented slavery, status inequality, and disrespect to human dignity.