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The Social Construction of Sex Trafficking: Ideology and Institutionalization of a Moral Crusade

Author

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  • Ronald Weitzer

    (George Washington University, weitzer@gwu.edu)

Abstract

The issue of sex trafficking has become increasingly politicized in recent years due to the efforts of an influential moral crusade. This article examines the social construction of sex trafficking (and prostitution more generally) in the discourse of leading activists and organizations within the crusade, and concludes that the central claims are problematic, unsubstantiated, or demonstrably false. The analysis documents the increasing endorsement and institutionalization of crusade ideology in U.S. government policy and practice.

Suggested Citation

  • Ronald Weitzer, 2007. "The Social Construction of Sex Trafficking: Ideology and Institutionalization of a Moral Crusade," Politics & Society, , vol. 35(3), pages 447-475, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:polsoc:v:35:y:2007:i:3:p:447-475
    DOI: 10.1177/0032329207304319
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Farrell, Amy & Fahy, Stephanie, 2009. "The problem of human trafficking in the U.S.: Public frames and policy responses," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 37(6), pages 617-626, November.
    2. Anthony Marcus & Amber Horning & Ric Curtis & Jo Sanson & Efram Thompson, 2014. "Conflict and Agency among Sex Workers and Pimps," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 653(1), pages 225-246, May.
    3. Matheson, Catherine M. & Finkel, Rebecca, 2013. "Sex trafficking and the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games: Perceptions and preventative measures," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 613-628.
    4. Cao, Liqun & Stack, Steven, 2010. "Exploring terra incognita: Family values and prostitution acceptance in China," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 38(4), pages 531-537, July.
    5. Denise Brennan, 2014. "Trafficking, Scandal, and Abuse of Migrant Workers in Argentina and the United States," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 653(1), pages 107-123, May.
    6. Hendrik Wagenaar, 2017. "Why Prostitution Policy (Usually) Fails and What to Do about It?," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 6(2), pages 1-15, April.
    7. Stef Adriaenssens & Giulia Garofalo Geymonat & Laura Oso, 2016. "Quality of Work in Prostitution and Sex Work. Introduction to the Special Section," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 21(4), pages 121-132, November.
    8. Stephen Chaudoin & David Smith & Johannes Urpelainen, 2014. "American evangelicals and domestic versus international climate policy," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 9(4), pages 441-469, December.
    9. Alexander Norfolk & Helga Hallgrimsdottir, 2019. "Sex Trafficking at the Border: An Exploration of Anti-Trafficking Efforts in the Pacific Northwest," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 8(5), pages 1-18, May.
    10. Charles Hounmenou, 2023. "Experiences of Faith-Based Organizations as Key Stakeholders in Policy Responses to Human Trafficking," Societies, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-35, August.
    11. Umme Saima Sorna & Selim Reza, 2023. "Sex Trafficking: A Modern-Day Slavery and Exploitation in Modern Times," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 7(6), pages 410-414, June.
    12. Carlo Morselli & Isa Savoie-Gargiso, 2014. "Coercion, Control, and Cooperation in a Prostitution Ring," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 653(1), pages 247-265, May.
    13. de Vries, Ieke & Farrell, Amy & Bouché, Vanessa & Wittmer-Wolfe, Dana E., 2020. "Crime frames and gender differences in the activation of crime concern and crime responses," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    14. Teela Sanders & Laura Connelly & Laura Jarvis King, 2016. "On Our Own Terms: The Working Conditions of Internet-Based Sex Workers in the UK," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 21(4), pages 133-146, November.
    15. Truong, T.-D., 2014. "Human trafficking, globalisation and transnational feminist responses," ISS Working Papers - General Series 50429, International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam (ISS), The Hague.
    16. Sheldon X. Zhang & Michael W. Spiller & Brian Karl Finch & Yang Qin, 2014. "Estimating Labor Trafficking among Unauthorized Migrant Workers in San Diego," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 653(1), pages 65-86, May.
    17. Heidi Hoefinger & Srorn Srun, 2017. "“At-Risk” or “Socially Deviant”? Conflicting Narratives and Grassroots Organizing of Sex/Entertainment Workers and LGBT Communities in Cambodia," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 6(3), pages 1-20, August.
    18. Petra Lemberger & Tony Waters, 2022. "Thailand’s Sex Entertainment: Alienated Labor and the Construction of Intimacy," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-24, November.
    19. Chenda Keo & Thierry Bouhours & Roderic Broadhurst & Brigitte Bouhours, 2014. "Human Trafficking and Moral Panic in Cambodia," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 653(1), pages 202-224, May.
    20. Danièle Bélanger, 2014. "Labor Migration and Trafficking among Vietnamese Migrants in Asia," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 653(1), pages 87-106, May.
    21. Ronald Weitzer, 2014. "New Directions in Research on Human Trafficking," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 653(1), pages 6-24, May.
    22. Sharmila Parmanand, 2018. "The Pimping of Prostitution: Abolishing the Sex Work Myth," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(6), pages 734-737, November.

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