Human trafficking is a global problem that affects all the nations in the world. Human trafficking is not a new phenomenon however; it was only until the last two decades that countries addressed the issue with legislation. The United States focused on the human trafficking issue with congressional hearings that consequently led to the passing of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act in 2000. The act established human trafficking as a social issue and a crime punishable by law. Issues such as human trafficking often go through a problem-framing procedure to enhance particular interpretations of the issue (Austin, 2016). The framing of the human trafficking is crucial since the interpretations influence how policy makers and public respond towards the issue. The essay will focus on how the media portrayal of human trafficking shapes the public perceptions of women and human trafficking.
The media often oversimplifies human trafficking and misrepresents the victims. Additionally human traffickers are often portrayed as foreigners while in fact U.S victims also perpetrate human trafficking. The victims are also portrayed as foreigners in the United States while in fact United States citizens can also be the victims of trafficking (Todres, 2016). Most individuals have an easier time believing movies such as Taken since they fulfill their perceptions. In the movie Taken played by Liam Neeson as the main character he single handedly combats an international ring of traffickers to rescue his daughter whom they had abducted. The action packed movie was very popular with two sequels following the initial release. Neeson’s daughter Kim is kidnapped and trafficked by an Albanian sex-trafficking ring while visiting Paris with her friends the ring abducts young girls, drugs them and sells them to Middle East. The movie makes its viewers believe that only adventure seeking women travelling to foreign countries would be at risk of being trafficked. The movie also portrays young women and girls as victims, Americans as heroes and other such as Arabs, Albanians and Russians as villains. The movies provide a misleading representation for its viewers like for instance viewers might think that trafficking only involves sex trafficking while in fact labor trafficking also occurs in industries such as agriculture, manufacturing and food (Austin, 2016). Most of these movies often end up with a dramatic rescue, while the rescue is great it is only the beginning of a challenging process for the victims. Moral support and assistance should be provided for the survivors in their recovery and reintegration into the community (Kara, 2009). Women are disempowered with how they are portrayed in trafficking movies in the media. Women are portrayed as vulnerable victims who have been coerced to relocate and work in the sex industry (European against Trafficking in Human Beings 2013). The depictions often include imagery of bodies battered, in chains, scantily dressed or packaged like animals. The depiction enhances the objectification of women by portraying them as items and disempowers them by portraying them as helpless victims. Anti-trafficking efforts should focus on the ideal of empowerment with the purpose increasing peoples’ ability to apply influence over their lives.
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Most of the media outlets perpetrate the same narrative of trafficking; defenseless women, American heroes and foreign villains. This is probably because these movies sell a lot when they follow the same narrative; Taken grossed a total of $226.8 million against a budget of $25 million. These movies have global viewership meaning that they influence the perceptions of many individuals. The movies mostly portray Americans as the heroes in the narrative; Liam Neeson single handedly destroys a trafficking ring in Taken. The villains are most often from other races such as Chinese, Albanians, Mexicans and Russians, in the movie Taken Albanian traffickers abduct Neeson’s daughter. The victims are always portrayed as defenseless women; this is a misrepresentation of women since men are also trafficked. The movies greatly influence the conversations on human trafficking.
The narrative in the movie Taken is true to some extent but also plays on trafficking myths. Traffickers often pry on defenseless women as targets; in the movie, the Albanian traffickers target Kim and her friend since they are alone in Paris. The traffickers often sell their victims to middle-eastern countries as sex slaves this is portrayed correctly in Taken. Most of the smuggling victims often agree to be transported to countries such as the United States in the quest for a better life; therefore it is not always forceful abduction. Despite portraying some truths about trafficking, Taken also plays on trafficking myths. Most of these movies often depict heroes who single handedly destroy criminal rings while in fact taking down traffickers often requires collaborative efforts between several agencies. Human trafficking does not always involve defenseless women; men are also involved in trafficking (Kara, 2009). The perceptions portrayed in these movies often shape law enforcement efforts hence trafficking of other victims does not get the consideration they deserve. International Labor Organization actually reports that labor trafficking victims exceed sex trafficking victims. The media plays an important role in informing the public about human trafficking; the movies and magazines have helped portray the narrative. However the media has also contributed in perpetrating the myths about human trafficking. The movies portray Americans as heroes, women and girls as victims, sex trafficking as the only form of human trafficking and foreigners as villains.
The media can be an effective tool to inform the public and stakeholders about the ills of human trafficking; however, this could be done more effectively if they portrayed the truth about the issue. Moviemakers and journalists could be sensitized on the true picture of human trafficking so they can incorporate in their productions. Portraying the truth about human trafficking could sensitize the public to fight for the rights of the victims and stakeholders to create legislation on human trafficking. The media portrayal of human trafficking is not an effective call to action due to its oversimplification. The media oversimplifies human trafficking; in the film Taken an ex-CIA operative single handedly takes down an established trafficking ring (Todres, 2016). If such a movie could portray the truth about human trafficking then it would be an effective call to action. If I were to rewrite the script of the film Taken I would depict the victim as a young man for a change, the heroes would probably be a group of experienced law enforcers rather than a single hero additionally I would portray the kidnappers as Americans to diminish the perception that only foreigners participate in human trafficking. Providing a differing view from the one provided by current films might debunk the myths and invoke reactions from the public and politicians.
Participating in this class has debunked most myths I had about human trafficking. First, I always had an oversimplified view of human trafficking; however participating in this class caught my attention on the severity of the issue. Human trafficking is a global problem that has not received the attention it deserves. The portrayal of the problem on the media has not helped in depicting the severity of trafficking instead it has simplified the problem. Additionally, I always thought that women were the only victims of trafficking however I realized that this perception contributes to objectification of women. The depiction of women as weak, battered and vulnerable beings in the human trafficking discussions contributes to women disempowerment. Human trafficking often has its roots in issues such as poverty, gender inequality and corruption therefore policy makers need to focus on the root problems.
References
Austin, R. (2016). Human Trafficking in the Media: A content Analysis on Human Trafficking Frames in Documentaries, Movies and Television Episodes. Retrieved from https://repository.library.northeastern.edu/files/neu:cj82n4337/fulltext.pdf
European Network Against Trafficking in Human Beings. (2013). Trafficking in the Media. Retrieved from http://lastradainternational.org/about-lsi/lsi-opinion/trafficking-in-the-media
Kara, S. (2009). Sex Trafficking. Inside the business of modern slavery .
Todres, J. (January 20, 2016). Movies and Myths about Human Trafficking. Retrieved from https://theconversation.com/movies-and-myths-about-human-trafficking-51300
