Human trafficking and Slavery exist in a social and economic relationship outlook. It is a relationship marked by extreme differentials of power, by violence, and by exploitation. It is also a relationship between two people. As a relationship, it exists within a context of social, economic, and moral expectations. This can be aptly explained within the context that helps us to understand the market for trafficked people. Abinitio, it is important to recognize that the “consumers” of trafficked people operate within a moral economy that allows them to rationalize their activities. This moral economy will not normally be the dominant cultural or legal context, but a sub-culture that in some way defines trafficked people in a way that allows their exploitation.
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.