A social worker’s duty is investigating and aiding individuals in the community with physical, mental or financial challenges. These services are extended to individuals forced into sex trafficking. Notably, as a social worker, it is crucial to understand the situation of those affected from all angles. For this reason, ‘Tricked,- A sex Trafficking Documentary’ from BBC is ideal to analyze for a social worker. It explains how young girls and women are trafficked for sex work from the perspective of the victims, their abusers (the johns and pimps) and the police as well. This analysis explains how the documentary relates to social work and explores some of the concepts learnt in this course.
Social Work understanding of Human Sex Trafficking
The video highlights different reasons from why girls get into sex trafficking. Interestingly, these reasons match the push and pull factors of human trafficking that are covered in the course. The most common according to the documentary include:
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• Poverty and unemployment
The study of sex trafficking shows that poverty and unemployment are push factors that motivate people to participate in this life ( Douglas, et al., 2014) . These factors leave people desperate such that they are willing to participate in a life of crime. The documentary in question provides evidence to support these factors. Many of the girls interviewed said they got into the prostitution and moved from town to town in search of clients with money because they had to survive. In fact, some of them came from such poor backgrounds that the basic need such as food and shelter provided by their oppressors or ‘pimps’ seemed like a luxury.
• Family violence
Unfortunately, some victims turned to this forced sex work as a result of family violence which manifested in different ways. For instance, having seen women suffer violence in the hands of their fathers or step-fathers, these young girls thought the treatment from pimps (men who manage girls in sex work) and johns (men who pay for sexual favours) were actually better. In another case, a parent would force their child into sexual work for the financial gain. Specifically, this documentary shows the story of a young girl forced into sex trafficking by her mother who needed money for drugs. Consequently, family violence is a real cause of sex trafficking.
• High wages and increased life opportunities
Notably, there are many young girls and women who remain in sex trafficking because it offers high wages and more life opportunities. In the Tricked BBC documentary, police sight that most women stay in the illegal business because they get money to support themselves and their dependents. Additionally, these girls enjoy the luxuries such as getting clothes, food and going to the salon. Furthermore, the pimps keep this business running because it helps them afford fancy cars, watches and houses that were otherwise impossible to get. Evidently, provided there is a ready market people are willing to risk their lives in sex trafficking.
Relationship dynamics between persons and their environment
As a social worker, it is crucial to understand the relationship between persons and their environment as part of self-awareness and cultural competence ( National Association of Social Workers. (2007) . This documentary suggests that the environment supports sex trafficking in different ways. First, it guarantees money for the abusers or pimps. According to the interviewed law enforcement officers, sex trafficking continues because there is a market for such a service. As many money and women are willing to pay for sexual favours, then more young girls will be introduced and forced to live in this life of sex trafficking.
The environment justifies the act of sex trafficking as well. In this story, BBC showed sex trafficking from all perspective including the pimps, johns and young women in the business. Notably, all groups of people had a reason to justify their actions. The pimps felt that sex is a commodity like any other and it was their responsibility to maximize that. Furthermore, they convinced the girls that sex work gives them a better life and opportunities. This is despite the fact that they are often subjected to violence and do not get the money they work for. Also, johns who pay for sex justify paying for sex as a respectful way to get sexual favours. Most of this justifying reasons are in denial of realities such as the girls are often beaten, they are in poor health and if they had better opportunities they would not choose that life.
Social systems Affected by Human Sex Trafficking
Human sex trafficking impacts the family setting as a social system. The prevalence of this system is proof that the family unit in society is failing. Mainly, young girls are taken away from their families so that they can work as sex slaves to make money. Also, many family members actually sell out their daughters or nieces to make money off sexual work. From a social worker’s perspective, it is clear that the family as a social system is suffering because these girls do not have that support system and cannot become parents since their line of work does not allow it.
The documentary also shows that low-income earners are another social system affected by sex trafficking. Sex work is sustainable in an environment where there are fewer sources of income and thus those involved must find a way to support themselves. In this video, many of the girls and pimps come from poor backgrounds and are trying to make a better life for themselves. Therefore, the subject their bodies and others to an unsatisfying lifestyle. The chase for money gives all parties a reason to justify their actions and thus low-income earners will always find a way to keep the business running.
Social Justice Issues
Tricked is a documentary that presents a number of social justice issues. First, it highlights the use of sex as a commodity. This is a social injustice because sex should not be sold because it is a matter of consents. Unfortunately, most abusers in the community believe it should be up for sale and more expensive the younger the girl is. Another social injustice highlighted in the documentary is violence. Unfortunately, the young girls sold to different men are the biggest victims of violence. In some cases, they endure the beating and a violent life at home and continue to face violent acts in the hands of their pimps and johns. Consequently, a social worker must find a way to confront such issues in society.
Notably, discrimination against women is also a dominant social justice issue in this documentary. Sadly, women are no longer human beings in this line of work. They are reduced to a commodity that men own and can use as they please. The girls are exchanged and sold like any other product in the market. This is unfortunate because they lose their self-worth and are denied the basic rights such as food, shelter and clothing until they submit to men running the business.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this documentary is very educative about human sex trafficking. The main lesson is that as a social worker it is crucial to look at the issue from all sides before deciding the best solutions for the problem. For instance, BBC researchers looked at sex trafficking from the abusers, victims and law enforcement’s perspective. Thus, the resolved that some of the best solutions involved educating the community and providing other economic opportunities for young women. For this reason, this documentary proves relevant to the community today.
References
Dove, M. (2017, Feb 8). ‘ Tricked - A sex Traffic Documentary - BBC Documentary 2017’ Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQ2lyVHEBZQ
National Association of Social Workers. (2007). Indicators for the achievement of the NASW standards for cultural competence in social work practice . NASW.
Douglas, M. K., Rosenkoetter, M., Pacquiao, D. F., Callister, L. C., Hattar-Pollara, M., Lauderdale, J., ... & Purnell, L. (2014). Guidelines for implementing culturally competent nursing care. Journal of Transcultural Nursing .
