Human Trafficking : “The Silent Victims”

Abstract: Human Trafficking, also known as Trafficking in Persons, or Modern-Day Slavery, is a multibillion-dollar industry that consumes millions of individuals from diverse social, cultural, racial, national, or gender backgrounds. Human trafficking can take many forms: labor, organ, and sex trafficking. It is a crime where people are treated as objects, goods, and commodities, becoming subjects to mental and physical abuse.  To this day, women and children are the ones receiving the most attention when talking about this crime, for men are neglected and overlooked due to socially constructed gender roles. However, male trafficking victims are often overlooked and under-researched but are just as subjected to physical, forced labor, sexual abuse, or any other form of trafficking as female human trafficking victims.  Therefore, this paper aims to provide an introduction to male trafficking victims through the lenses of structural violence, masculinity, (mis-) recognition, and governance theories. Despite an existing focus on female trafficking victims, this study endeavors to draw upon the experiences of male trafficking victims.  Lastly, acknowledging male trafficking victims could help raise awareness about the main issue and work towards its complete abolishment. Most importantly, it can help break down stereotypes that are circulating around human trafficking and gender roles.