Social Work Discussion
Human trafficking can be regarded as an endemic social issue characterized by power, violence, and abuse. Women are common victims of this social vice, and social work is regarded as one of the tools to help the people affected by this crime to return to their normal lives. It has been acknowledged that social workers should employ theoretical paradigms to make their services focused and effective (Brun, 2014). Many theories exist to address the matter. One of the theoretical frameworks is trauma theory that focuses on the traumatic experiences victims are exposed to as well as the influence of these traumas on their further life (Usman, 2014). This theory is used to guide the analysis of a particular case involving a young Indian woman. This paper includes a brief discussion of the themes arising from the woman’s account as well as the way these themes can enrich the current knowledge base and theory.
The conventional content analysis was implemented to identify the most recurrent themes that include money, abuse, pregnancy, betrayal, violence, intimidation, stigmatization, and organized crime. The girl continuously mentions specific sums of money associated with human trafficking and focuses on such experiences as beating, torture, sexual violence. The girl also describes some parts of the network that serves as the background of human trafficking in India. The network includes brothel workers, police officers, relatives, criminals who traffic girls. Two major tools used to control victims are intimidation and violence.
The identified themes provide valuable insights into the problem of human trafficking and can contribute to the development of trauma theory. Stigmatization is an important phenomenon to be analyzed. According to the theory, victims turn back to the experiences they lived through and repeat impaired relationship patterns throughout their life. Ina’s case reveals one of the influential factors affecting this process. The young woman is stigmatized in her village as even her close relatives (aunts and uncles still abuse her). She does not feel fit for the role of a mother, which is an illustration of impaired relationship patterns. In simple terms, the community creates the ground for the victim’s issues associated with the development of certain relationships. Social workers should pay specific attention to this area and try to help victims cope with this issue. Victims should feel empowered and find the strengths to accept their past to move on and self-develop irrespective of some attitudes within their communities.
It is necessary to note that the rest of the identified themes are similar to the ones discussed within the theoretical work mentioned above. Although the focus is on trauma, such issues as abuse, pregnancy, intimidation, violence, and power are also addressed (Usman, 2014). These are major factors that affect victims’ psychological well-being. The credibility of the discussion is illustrated by the recurrence of the themes in the brief account of the girl. The same themes arise when similar cases are considered in terms of trauma theory.
In conclusion, it is necessary to state that the case in question can contribute to the development of trauma theory. An important insight the case adds is related to the way stigmatization in communities prevents victims from recovering from their past experiences. The case also illustrates the credibility of the theory as such themes as violence, pregnancy, power, and intimidation are evident. These areas receive the most attention of people who apply trauma theory when considering issues related to human trafficking.
References
Brun, C. (2014). A practical guide to evaluation. Chicago, IL: Lyceum.
Usman, M. (2014). Trafficking in women and children as vulnerable groups: Talking through theories of international relations. European Scientific Journal, 10(17), 282-292.