What is Dignity

Discussions surrounding human trafficking and sex work in contemporary times depict it as one of the few global taboos that have transcended time and place. Persons who engage in this enterprise of sex-for-profit, particularly women, are often deemed societal undesirables, and their contribution to the workforce and the larger economy is always unrecognized. While some feminist activists recognized sex workers as victims of exploitation, others have adopted a moral shift that emphasizes sex work as an act of empowerment. This thesis, therefore, explores the history and nuances of sex work, especially within the context of human trafficking and commercial sex work. Findings divulge that in the society today, sex work and sex workers are often framed in very simplistic and stereotypical ways that erase the complexity of social realities: good or bad, forced or chosen, glamorized or exploitative.