Researched by William Swayze
One of the most prevalent issues persists around the world, with heinous actions proliferating the abuse of human beings on a large scale. Human trafficking is often perpetuated by cultural aspects or viewpoints, such as cultures that still actively endorse slave-based labor. While it is a significant issue, many people are unaware of the intricacies and factors that define human trafficking. This problem has spread globally, with historical cases of people being captured and taken to other villages for various reasons. The human trafficking industry is shrouded in so much misinformation that it often proliferates the sector by preventing reason and the greater public from understanding the true factors that contribute to human trafficking and its subdivisions. Several cultural and worldwide issues define human trafficking, typically in a certain region of a nation or local community, with some families selling young girls or boys into slavery due to financial or cultural reasons. When examining the cultural background of human trafficking, several aspects must be considered, particularly the misinformation surrounding it, how different areas of the world handle and even proliferate it, and long-standing cultural issues, including shifts in social and economic structure.
“Men are excluded from the trafficking statistics gathered in Thailand because, according to its national law, men cannot qualify as trafficking victims” (Feingold, p.1, 2005), this statement from David A. Feingold in his paper Think Again defines one of the primary misapprehensions surrounding human trafficking: men cannot be trafficked or that a certain person would be undesirable to traffic. This is a vast misconception, protecting one of the main things human trafficking is used for, slave labor, is often not seen as prevalent anymore, especially due to being taught in an academic environment that it is largely not used anymore. This perception frequently erases the true reality of victims. It distorts the global understanding of the underlying mechanisms that surround human trafficking, along with tainting the public view of victims and the trafficking industry as a whole. In reality, men, women, and children of all ethnicities, heritages, heights, and ages can be trafficked for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to forced labor or slave labor, sexual exploitation, organ trafficking, forced marriages (depending on the circumstances), among many more. The cultural and historical lens through which trafficking is viewed frequently dictates both what is acknowledged and what remains hidden or ignored by the public view. In cultures in which forced marriages or forced labor are normalized or considered ‘justified’, trafficking is viewed as a mere fault in circumstances rather than a human rights violation. This is further perpetuated by economic survival, in some circumstances, due to the societal standards put in place, selling a loved one into forced marriages or labor is considered commonplace, leading to little consideration within these societies.
Furthermore, the perpetuation of misinformation often increases these issues by narrowing the public perception to a singular narrative, which in many Western societies solely focuses on sex trafficking while ignoring others. This is typically done as it gives the most visceral reaction, making people react far more vehemently than in typical circumstances. This limited perspective often severely impacts the direction of policymaking and the allocation of resources on both the personal and federal level, which considerably harms a wide range of victims who do not fit the stereotypical range. According to the International Monetary Fund and the Global Slavery Index, in the article The Hidden Scourge by Mely Caballero-Anthony a associate professor and head of the Centre for Non-Traditional Security at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies: “The scourge of human trafficking, sometimes called “modern slavery,” affects some 40 million men, women, and children trapped in a horrendous web of forced labor, sexual exploitation, and coerced marriage (ILO and Walk Free Foundation 2017). According to some estimates, human trafficking is now one of the world’s most lucrative organized crimes, generating more than $150 billion a year. Two-thirds of its victims, or 25 million people, are in East Asia and the Pacific.” (Caballero-Anthony, 2017). These regions often have a culture that proliferates these actions by viewing the trafficking as justified or a regular occurrence, with many people not even reporting or realizing they are being trafficked. Additionally, in these regions, due to the prevalence of sexual trafficking, other forms, such as forced labor, are getting overshadowed, leading to a lack of international or even national legislation. As stated by Caballero-Anthony: “Many Southeast Asian victims migrate in search of paid jobs but wind up forced to labor in fishing, agriculture, construction, and domestic work, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Most of them are men who cannot repay exorbitant fees charged by unauthorized brokers and recruiters and so become vulnerable to debt bondage and other forms of exploitation.” (Caballero-Anthony, 2017). This is a common practice done around the world, used by traffickers to secure victims: by making them feel like they deserve it. This is typically done by looking for people in poor situations, either financially or socially, and promising them the ability to improve themselves in society or to free them from their current situations if they accompany them. This entices the victims to come willingly and feel like they owe the trafficker, leading to them allowing mischief to be done to them. Another factor to consider is that it leads to a vast amount of misinformation due to the changes in the modern world, especially the internet, leading traffickers to lure in victims online. Along with using the internet to proliferate crimes, utilizing the ‘Dark web’ is used to sell victims or to distribute pornographic material of victims. According to Caballero-Anthony, “The rise in child trafficking in the region is linked to the alarming increase in online child pornography, including live streaming of sexual abuse of children. It is a lucrative business estimated to generate $3–$20 billion in profit a year. Countries such as Cambodia and Thailand have been identified as major suppliers of pornographic material.” (Caballero-Anthony, 2017). When considering a trafficker, what is typically considered? Most people consider a tall figure, who is more than likely a man, to be a trafficker. This idea often helps traffickers who utilize women who are either a part of the crime industry or have been trafficked themselves to lure in potential targets. Mellissa Withers, Ph.D., M.H.S., in her article Sex Traffickers: The Hidden Role of Women describes the effect of woman traffickers: “The danger of creating gender-based stereotypes for anti-trafficking initiatives is that it allows female traffickers to continue to operate under the radar, almost completely invisible. Cases like actress Allison Mack and Ghislaine Maxwell, who was found guilty of sex trafficking in connection with Jeffrey Epstein and was sentenced to 20 years in prison, are recent examples that have attracted worldwide media attention.” (Withers, 2023). These stereotypical ideas of men as traffickers are often rooted in cultural ideas; these gender-based stereotypes are based on gender divides, often due to patriarchal societies, where it becomes tough to view women as traffickers, as they are often viewed as victims.
In the article The Emergence of Cyber Activity as a Gateway to Human Trafficking by Greiman and Bain from Boston University, the newer action of ‘cyber trafficking’ is described. When encompassing the newer nature of this style of cybercrime and the actions done, this was stated: “In recent years, the term ‘cyber’ has been used to describe anything that has to do with computers, networks, and the Internet, particularly in the security field. However, the contours and meaning of ‘cyber trafficking’ have not yet been constructed to any substantial degree in legal or trafficking literature or practice.” (Greiman and Bain, p. 2, 2013). This demonstrates a prevalent misconception and a near-incomplete understanding of the current manner of trafficking, as these actions of cyber trafficking are yet to be properly considered. In more recent years, actions have been taken to prevent this with the banning of certain websites along with the investigation of the ‘dark web’ for instances of human trafficking over the internet. In due response to the lack of a formal definition Greiman and Bain developed this working definition: “‘Cyber Trafficking’ is the ‘transport of persons,’ by means of a computer system, Internet service, mobile device, local bulletin board service, or any device capable of electronic data storage or transmission to coerce, deceive, or consent for the purpose of ‘exploitation’. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labor or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery and servitude. ‘Transport in persons’ shall mean the recruitment, advertisement, enticement, transportation, sale, purchase, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, for the purpose of exploitation with or without the consent of the victim.” (Greiman and Bain, p. 3, 2013). This definition allows for a more reasonable and viable understanding of the means of trafficking online. Which is ever present in the ever online world with developing means of transport and consumption of trafficked persons' likenesses and imagery.
Understanding the full scope of human trafficking requires a more in-depth examination of cultural traditions and normalities, along with the economic hardships of regions. Along with the nuanced factors that lead to misinformation, such as cultural bias or a view of improper ‘justification’. Trafficking is not solely an issue confined to illegal operations; it is often embedded within economies, governmental systems, and social structures that permit and even exacerbate its continuation. Only by carefully dismantling prevalent myths, addressing complex misapprehensions and misinformation, and developing societal understanding of the factors that lead to human trafficking can an effective and comprehensive global response be achieved.
Article 2 of the Forced Labor Convention from the International Labor Organization states this: “1. For this Convention, the term forced or compulsory labour shall mean all work or service which is exacted from any person under the menace of any penalty and for which the said person has not offered himself voluntarily. 2. Nevertheless, for this Convention, the term forced or compulsory labour shall not include-- (a) any work or service exacted in virtue of compulsory military service laws for work of a purely military character; (b) any work or service which forms part of the normal civic obligations of the citizens of a fully self-governing country; (c) any work or service exacted from any person as a consequence of a conviction in a court of law, provided that the said work or service is carried out under the supervision and control of a public authority and that the said person is not hired to or placed at the disposal of private individuals, companies or associations;” (International Labor Organization, 1930). This international document dictates an important distinction when considering human trafficking and forced labor: social views. To merely bind all human trafficking to one set of conventions is nigh impossible for a multitude of reasons, many of which require examinations of societal, economic, and historical views. For example, in many places of the world, forced marriages are used to disguise or perform human trafficking, while in others, it is simply a religious or cultural practice. As reaffirmed in the article Forced Labour and Forced Marriage by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), “Forced marriage is a complex and highly gendered practice. Although men and boys are also forced to marry, it predominantly affects women and girls. Forced marriages occur in every region of the world and cut across ethnic, cultural, and religious lines. The many drivers of forced marriage are closely linked to longstanding patriarchal attitudes and practices and are highly context specific.” (IOM, p. 1, 2022). The context surrounding these marriages dictates how they should be viewed, requiring a non-standardized lens allowing for several viewpoints, attributing current and historical ideas to debate whether the situation is simply an aspect of the culture or human trafficking. It is important to recognize that this is no isolated issue revolving around nearly every culture in the world. As stated by IOM, “The 2021 Global Estimates indicate there are 50 million people in situations of modern slavery on any given day, either forced to work against their will or in a marriage that they were forced into. This number translates to nearly one of every 150 people in the world.” (IOM, p. 1, 2022). This is a prevalent issue that cannot even be fully grasped, as oftentimes the issue is ignored, hidden, unreported, or ingrained in a society. The widespread nature of forced labor and marriage demonstrates that modern slavery is not confined to one region or socio-economic class, but is a global issue that demands a nuanced understanding and critical approach to any one circumstance.
Even areas that do not directly support or house forced labor often support the behavior either socially, by mere ignorance, or economically. Such is the case with the diamond market. According to Verite, an organization for proper working conditions, “Diamonds are mined through hard-rock open-pit, or alluvial mining. [...] Approximately 20 percent of diamonds are mined via artisanal, or small-scale, mining operations. This type of diamond production is most likely to feature forced and/or child labor.” (Verite). This presents a concerning realization with the ever-present integration and normalization of human trafficking and forced labor. Especially as it relates to cultures of western society and those around the world, as everything from machines to clothes may be getting produced by forced child labor, creating a society built upon violations of human rights, and even often supporting it. To stop these prevalent world circumstances, many believe in sanctioning the countries that proliferate these actions to limit the exposure and significance of forced labor goods. However, oftentimes this is not the case and in some circumstances may even be harmful according to Feingold: “International humanitarian agencies see the threat of U.S. sanctions against foreign governments as largely counterproductive. Practically speaking, sanctions will likely be applied only against countries already subject to sanctions, such as Burma or North Korea. Threatening moderately unresponsive countries such as China, Nigeria, or Saudi Arabia would likely backfire, causing these countries to become less open to dialogue and limiting the information necessary for effective cooperation. Although some countries certainly lack and create false fronts of activity, others actively seek Uncle Sam's seal of approval (and the resources often follow) with genuine efforts to combat trafficking.” (Feingold, p. 4, 2005). Showcasing how, on a cultural level, these countries, along with many Western nations, are directly dependent and tied to forced labor and human trafficking on an economic and international level. Even if a person can escape enslavement, victims often face insurmountable barriers due to legal, social, and economic factors.
When considering the social circumstances of trafficking, we must also consider the national or regional circumstance that presents the question of ‘should victims be returned home?’. When presented with this question, Feingold stated: Sending victims home may simply place them back in the same conditions that endangered them in the first place, particularly in situations of armed conflict or political unrest. If criminal gangs were involved in the trafficking, they would likely threaten the safety of victims and their families.” (Feingold, p. 4, 2005). This is another part of trafficking that must be considered, as typically, many victims are vilified or treated similarly upon their return home, perpetuating the cycle of violence that led to them getting trafficked again. Traffickers often appear to be safe to convince those in poor conditions to willingly follow these people. “Finding safe shelter is particularly important for trafficking survivors, who are more susceptible to reverting to the same situation, said Nichols, the law enforcement consultant. He said traffickers, even those associated with crime groups, look like ordinary people.” (Nichols and North Carolina Health News, 2024). In many circumstances, especially if the person was involved in some sort of sexual based trafficking, their community will view them as impure or dirty, leading to many victims either unwilling or unable to speak out and address long-standing ruin within their culture. Survivors of trafficking or sexual exploitation who are a part of communities with rigid gender norms or ‘moral’ codes frequently face subjectation upon return home. In some traditionalist societies, this makes it so that victims do not speak out. Typically, they will be viewed as impure, a stigma which, if ingrained in the community, would be held by honored members like friends and family, leading to both an external and internal villainization of the victim.
In conclusion, human trafficking and its subdivisions, such as forced labor and sex trafficking, are deeply rooted, multifaceted issues that do not provide a simple explanation or solution, often due to their heavy connection to social and economic structure. Cultural, historical, and economic contexts must be critically assessed to understand the true nature of actions in many cases, such as forced marriage, to ascertain whether they are a violation of human rights or simply an aspect of the society. Efforts to combat trafficking, therefore, must be diverse and multifaceted, able to adapt to fit unique implications and cases. To introduce true progress, efforts must be made to find a comprehensive plan that allows people to stay informed on a global scale, allowing for cooperation and the mutual understanding of differing groups of people. Preventing the cycle of human trafficking and deterring societies from being built on the back of human violations and suffering.
Human trafficking thrives on and perpetuates deeply rooted cultural issues, exacerbating a vicious cycle that is difficult to break. In many societies around the world, cultural traditions and norms create perfect conditions for trafficking by normalizing exploitation and marginalization. Traffickers look for people who are easy to exploit, this is vastly easier in environments where people are already exploited, perpetuating the cycle. For example, in the case of the Indian girl Tina, when discussing the case, this was stated, “Tina, too, was easily lured by a trafficker with false promises of work in a big city. Nirnay believes that Tina's case is one of the few success stories where law enforcement agencies, community organizations and civil society were able to rescue a girl that was trafficked. He says, " Today 21 people are behind bars in this case. However, we are not always this fortunate. In most cases, by the time we are able to track the location of the girl, she has already been sold several times, and we have lost all track of her.” (UNODC, 2025). Tina’s case is by no means a rare one; in many instances around the world, women, men, and children are lured in under pretenses of better situations; nevertheless, due to cultural issues, these cases are not often reported, leading to a lack of discovery and public awareness. A similar but widely known issue of sexual harassment and assault in Japan is largely unreported due to the culture of the region, especially due to the preconceived notions of it being normalized or fair. As stated by Amnesty International a organization for human rights, “A former member of Japan’s Self-Defence Forces, Rina Gono, also filed a civil lawsuit in June 2023 against five former soldiers for mental distress caused by sexual violence committed against her during her military service, and against the government for failing to prevent or properly investigate the assaults. A report on a subsequent investigation commissioned by the Ministry of Defence, published in August, found an entrenched culture of harassment, including sexual harassment, in the military. Japan’s parliament passed amendments to the Penal Code in June, recognizing non-consensual sexual intercourse as rape for the first time and raising the age of sexual consent from 13 to 16. The statute of limitations for reporting rape was extended from 10 to 15 years.” (Amnesty, 2023). This, sadly, is a real situation for many girls around the world where the culture of something is so ingrained into the society that the government does little to prevent it or even condones it, such as was the case with Japan's military. Many women in Japan are fearful of reporting cases of sexual assault or rape due to the culture of the country leading many to beileve they will be ridiculed or not believed if they report.
This is not merely a problem for countries outside the United States or other Western nations, but is ever present in nearly every country in the world. Many predators of human trafficking exist within the United States, looking for children with poor home lives so that they can be manipulated into doing actions the trafficker desires (USDOE, 2025). According to the United States Department of Education (USDOE), “An unknown number of U.S. citizens and legal residents are trafficked within the country for sexual servitude and forced labor. Contrary to a common assumption, human trafficking is not just a problem in other countries. Cases of human trafficking have been reported in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. territories. Victims of human trafficking can be children or adults, U.S. citizens or foreign nationals, male or female.” (USDOE, 2025). These traffickers work off the system in place by looking for kids in poor neighborhoods or with inadequate homes. The USDOE lists out some of the things to look out for in children at high risk of being trafficked, such as
“Chronically runs away from home.
Makes references to frequent travel to other cities.
Exhibits bruises or other signs of physical trauma, withdrawn behavior, depression, or fear.
Lacks control over her or his schedule or identification documents.
Is hungry or malnourished, in need of medical care, or inappropriately dressed.” (USDOE, 2025).
These are often signs a child is in a situation in which they desire stability or someone to provide comfort and care to them, which a predator may exploit. One thing many traffickers around the world utilize is natural disasters or areas of uncertainty to lure in desirable people to be trafficked. According to North Carolina Health News, “People may come and say things like, ‘I’ve got food and shelter and clothing for you, but you have to come with me now,’” said McCallum Desselle, who has studied the connection between human trafficking and disasters. “Offers that are too good to be true or wages that are too good to be true can be enticing when you’ve lost everything.” (Desselle and North Carolina Health News, 2024). The victim often views the abuse as an exchange of sorts, in which they give resources like their body or labor in exchange for food and safety, allowing them to be preyed upon. This is often the case used by refugees or those in poor family situations to cope with the actions done to them by viewing it as a means to survive rather than a violation of their human rights.
The factors that lead to human trafficking are not isolated and have existed throughout history. One way to easily remember factors that may lead to human trafficking is the horsemen of the apocalypse from the Book of Revelation. Famine manifests as economic drought, with many victims unable to get the food or resources to survive. Famine is not merely the absence of food, but the craving and desire for the loss of something. Many victims desire a missing aspect in their lives, such as family, home, security, and more. Pestilence can be abstracted as the disease of trafficking itself, along with the cultural taboos that silence victims, as previously described in “The Hidden Scourge”. Like many diseases, Trafficking is an epidemic that purges the earth, contaminating every aspect of society. Death symbolically can imply the loss of community, and people leave room for exploitation with the loss of dignity, identity, and hope. In our senses, death can be depression, making victims feel hopeless, leaving them the ability to exploitation. Lastly, war or conquest forms conflict areas, creating cultural and political instability, leading to vulnerable populations. War has been a very prevalent issue in recent years, with people destabilized by war leaving their homelands and being trafficked while being refugees. An aspect heavily present within trafficking is the seven deadly sins. The sins showcase the desires and ambitions of man, often leading to vile pursuits. Certain sins are very evident, such as the sin of lust and greed leading to sex trafficking, or the sin of wrath creating conflict areas, breaking homes and families. The sin of greed and gluttony inspires traffickers to pursue trafficking as a means to gain notoriety, wealth, or simply fulfill their desires. The sin of envy is often present within victims, being the desire to get better circumstances, which is often exploited by traffickers, especially those who have lost their homes, such as refugees. When speaking about refugees getting trafficked, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) stated this, “Many persons fleeing conflict, violence or persecution are also compelled to move irregularly to seek protection. For this, they often resort to the services of smugglers. In these circumstances, refugees are particularly vulnerable to being trafficked or to falling victim to serious crimes and human rights violations.” (UNHCR). Throughout history, people have been abused and trafficked for a variety of reasons, whether they are prisoners of war, like African slaves, such as in the triangular trade, or Chinese citizens captured during World War Two by the Japanese. Trafficking is often referred to as ‘Modern-day slavery’; conversely, in many cases, it is simply just slavery with few changes, the exploitation of people being almost a constant throughout all of history.
Human trafficking is a global crisis that has been perpetuated across generations, being deeply intertwined with cultural norms, economic disparity, and political instability, creating an environment where exploitation is not only possible but thrives. Ingrained in social structures that perpetuate harm done to marginalized groups, such as women, men, and children, oppressors utilize harmful or vile conditions to gain the trust and admiration of the victims. Human trafficking is a disease present in every society in the world, including many western nations, even being supported by or housed by the government of a nation, as was the case in the Japanese military. Traffickers look for and abuse those ‘down on their luck’, looking for people who do not have a proper home or are in a hostile situation, to ravange them and to make them believe they are being saved under pretenses that they will be helped or brought to a better area, as with the case of many refugees that are trafficked.
Human trafficking is a complex issue deeply woven into cultures all over the world, ingrained in social structures, economic conditions, and political climates, leading to an ever-persistent cycle of wickedness and exploitation. Human trafficking stems from an environment of misinformation, social structure, and cultural issues, which allow trafficking networks to thrive in areas and make it difficult to recognize and combat the issue effectively. Due to the complex nature of human trafficking stems from it is often hard to find a singular solution that effectively manages the issue properly. Governments, organizations, and regionalized communities must work together and examine how their community creates an environment desirable for a trafficker, often requiring more than simply legal reforms. Making an organized stance to shift cultural perceptions around human trafficking, along with dismantling harmful ideas or taboos that may lead to a lack of security. Many individuals fall victim to trafficking due to desperation, seeking financial security, or fleeing conflict, only to be entrapped in an exploitative circumstance. Moreover, preventing the perpetuation of harmful principles or cultural aspects, such as the idea that only women can be trafficked or only men are traffickers, along with vilifying victims to the point that trafficking or sexual exploitation is seen as a joke in some areas. Education must also be performed to educate people about possible warning signs for themselves and others, along with education on new forms used to facilitate the trafficking of people, such as online methods or pornography. By tackling and properly understanding the cultures of differing areas and the factors that lead to trafficking, meaningful steps can be made towards eradicating human trafficking and protecting vulnerable individuals from exploitation.
References/Resources Used
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United States Department of Education. “Human Trafficking of Children in the United States Fact Sheet for Schools.” U.S. Department of Education, 2025, www.ed.gov/teaching-and-administration/supporting-students/human-trafficking/human-trafficking-of-children-in-the-united-states-a-fact-sheet-for-schools. Accessed 27 Apr. 2025.
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Vespa, Emily. “Human Trafficking Risk Has Been Rising in Western North Carolina since Helene.” North Carolina Health News, 15 Nov. 2024, www.northcarolinahealthnews.org/2024/11/15/human-trafficking-rising-in-western-nc-helene/. Accessed 27 Apr. 2025.
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