Introduction
One of the notable documentaries produced by Wisneski is “Sex Trafficking in America.” The documentary explores the stories and harrowing experiences of young women kidnapped by human traffickers. The film examines the challenges that law enforcement and other stakeholders face in combatting sex trafficking. The documentary includes interviews with survivors of sex trafficking, law enforcement officials, and experts in the field. It highlights the complex nature of sex trafficking and the various factors that contribute to its persistence, including themes of poverty, inequality, and the demand for commercial sex.
This paper explores how sociological issues of conflict theory and functionalism shape the events that unfold in the film. Sex trafficking is a complex sociological issue with devastating impacts on the lives of women in the US.
Concept Application
Deviant Behavior Definition
Sex trafficking is a serious crime that involves the exploitation of vulnerable individuals for the purposes of commercial sex acts. It is a form of human trafficking that involves the recruitment, transportation, and exploitation of young women and girls, often involving brutal force, fraud, and coercion. It is a deviant behavior because it is against the accepted norms and traditions of society. Ferris and Stein (2022) defined deviance as a behavior, trait, or belief that departs from the norms of society and attracts negative reactions from a given group of people.
Pimping as Deviant Behavior
Pimping is a particularly heinous form of deviant behavior because it involves the exploitation and abuse of vulnerable individuals, often for the financial gain of others. Perpetrators of the industry use a variety of tactics to control and manipulate victims to engage in acts of prostitution against one’s wishes or will. In the film, the narrator states, “That sounds illegal… there’s a lot more fetishes and deviant behavior…” (Frontline PBS, 2019, 34:43-44). The narrator describes the behavior as deviant because it deviates from the norm, and no one could anticipate that people could sell others for commercial sex.
The Role of Social Stratification in Sex Trafficking
Law enforcement agencies, non-governmental organizations, and communities have developed a significant interest in addressing the surging cases of sex trafficking in the US and around the globe. However, while there are significant efforts to eradicate the problem, anti-sex traffickers ought to acknowledge that the issue is a multifaceted problem rooted in society. It is a social issue that thrives on social stratification.
Definition of Social Stratification
Ferris and Stein (2022) defined social stratification as the grouping or division of members of society into ranks. The ranks can be expressed in the form of education differences, income, and occupation. Sex traffickers target marginalized members of society, such as people with low levels of education and a few others who are tricked into the industry with the promise of getting money or employment. “A happy girl makes happy money… it’s all about money,” says one of the quoted traffickers in Frontline PBS (2019, 19:44). The industry thrives because perpetrators are in dire need of money, and they are willing to do everything to get what they want.
The Role of Family Institution in Sex Trafficking
The multifaceted problem of sex trafficking is linked to marriages and families. Ferris and Stein (2022) described families as basic blocks that constitute society. Functional families create room for socialization, a concept defined by Ferris and Stein (2022) as a process through which people learn and internalize the values and norms of society. Through socialization, children can shun deviant behaviors and embrace traits that reflect the culture.
The concepts of family and marriage are evident in the Frontline PBS documentary on sex trafficking. When narrating how she fell into the hands of traffickers, Kat stated that the parents were arguing over everything and were blaming her for what was happening. “…and my parents had been arguing a lot about just things that had been going on throughout, like, my life, and things that were going on in their life.” (Frontline PBS, 2019, 13:21).
Dysfunctional families can make children vulnerable, as seen in the case of Kat. Sex traffickers can exploit the vulnerability by chatting with children who feel lonely and ushering them into the business of the sex industry. Additionally, social media platforms have created a virtual world where sex traffickers target young and innocent girls. Kat stated that she has Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat (Frontline PBS, 2019, 13:29). She was introduced to the sex traffickers by a friend from one of the social media platforms.
Summary of Findings
One can conclude that the sex trafficking industry thrives in America because of a culture that objectifies and devalues women. Culture is defined by Ferris and Stein (2022) as norms and behaviors considered acceptable by members of society. In the context of sex trafficking, the American culture has failed in the role of protecting women and young girls against perpetrators of heinous crimes. Women are exploited and considered vessels of sex to the extent that they can be exchanged for money.
In the Frontline PBS documentary (2019, 1:36), one of the narrators stated, “Without customers, there’s no girls out there…” The industry thrives because of willing sellers and buyers who have lost their sense of humanity. Furthermore, perpetrators of the heinous act take advantage of sex and gender differences, where women are disproportionately affected by systematic inequalities.
According to Ferris and Stein (2022), sex is a biological classification, while gender refers to the classification of people into either sex based on behavioral expressions. Gender stereotypes tend to associate masculinity with men, while feminism with women. In one of her encounters with a trafficker, Kat narrated that the trafficker accused her of being disrespectful. “…and he said I was being disrespectful, because I didn’t want to do nothing…” (Frontline PBS, 2019, 42:06). Discriminatory factors have contributed to the growing exploitation and recruitment of women into the industry.
Theoretical Applications
Conflict Theory
Societies are made up of different organizations and social structures that influence day-to-day activities. Conflict theory by Max Weber explains and describes the drivers of the unequal distribution of power and resources in society. According to Ferris and Stein (2022), Marx believed that social inequality is a basic characteristic of society. The theory provides a critical perspective on society, illuminating the role of power structures and socioeconomic inequalities seen in the Frontline PBS documentary “Sex Trafficking in America.” Conflict theory is pertinent to the emerging themes of sex trafficking as a social issue.
The theory emphasizes the issue of power disparity between the traffickers and victims and between law enforcement agencies and traffickers. Traffickers tend to have considerable control over their victims, who are frequently weak and underprivileged people with little access to resources. The sex trafficking industry thrives as a result of societal structures and institutions, such as the illegal and uncontrolled nature of the sex trade, lack of resources, and stigmatization of sex workers.
Additionally, the documentary unearths the tension between beneficiaries of the sex industry and those who work to stop it and protect victims. While anti-trafficking organizations and law enforcement agencies attempt to punish traffickers and protect victims, traffickers actively work to elude law enforcement and profit from the exploitation of vulnerable individuals. This is the evidence of a society thriving on structures of inequality.
Functionalist Theory
Structural functionalism is another sociological theory that has been studied and found significant applications in sociology. Coined by Durkheim, the theory views society as a combination of interactive elements that act together to maintain stability in the system (Ferris & Stein, 2022). The structures can be identified as law enforcement systems, families, marriages, schools, religious institutions, and governmental and non-governmental organizations. A dysfunction in any part of the system can trigger lasting consequences for the entire society. For instance, failed marriages and families can interfere with the education system, security, and social justice as a result of an increase in criminal activities.
The sociological perspective of functionalism could view sex trafficking as a dysfunction in society. During one of the interviews with one of the victims in the documentary, the girl narrates how she was lured into the hands of traffickers because she had problems in her relationship with her parents (Frontline PBS, 2019). The family is regarded as a significant social institution that serves the purpose of educating children in morals and values. Any slight failure in the family can contribute to a significant dysfunction, as seen in the documentary.
Similarly, functionalism views sex trafficking as a dysfunction that threatens the stability and order of society. Issues of poverty, gender inequality, and a lack of access to education and employment have also contributed to sex trafficking. These issues make people more vulnerable and open to exploitation and trafficking.
Personal Understanding
This writing assignment has played a direct role in challenging my assumptions and equipping me with new insights into the dark world of sex trafficking. I have discovered the strategies that traffickers use, such as online apps. I have also learned that the industry has been excelling because of the high demand. The best approach is to empower marginalized groups such as women and children, speak about the ills, and collaborate with stakeholders. Sex trafficking affects all social institutions, such as family, government, criminal justice systems, and education. Stakeholders should work with young women to prepare and nurture skills that will help them overcome the schemes of traffickers.
Implications for Future Research
Despite the popular evidence that sex trafficking is an ongoing problem, the topic remains sensitive due to the stigma associated with the behavior. If I were to investigate the topic of sex trafficking, I could use the survey method to collect, document, and analyze my data. I could use online surveys and ask the respondents to maintain confidentiality to maintain anonymity. The method could help in collecting data from survivors, victims, and governmental agencies.
I believe that victims and survivors of sex trafficking can benefit from medical sociology. Medical sociology is a branch that combines healthcare and social issues of health. The knowledge of medical sociology can be used to deliver patient-centered care, promote recovery, and help victims lead productive lives. I believe that everyone deserves a second chance, and it is the responsibility of all stakeholders to intervene and impact individuals and families.
References
Ferris, K., & Stein, J. (2022). The real world: An introduction to sociology (8th ed.). WW Norton & Company.
Frontline PBS (2019). Sex trafficking in America [Video]. YouTube. Web.