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Beyond the ‘Natasha’ story -- a review and critique of current research on sex trafficking

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  • Sheldon X. Zhang

Abstract

A review of literature on sex trafficking since 2000 reveals that numerous articles have been published in scholarly journals but few are based on systematic primary data collection. Much of our current knowledge, including statistical estimates and characteristics of the trafficking business, derives from a handful reports issued by government and non-government agencies. With few empirical studies available, imagination seems to have filled the gaps of our knowledge. The problem was further complicated by a manifest (sometimes subtle) moral crusading agenda aimed at a deep-rooted and hotly debated social practice. Also noticeable in the literature is an increasing number of authors who have begun to challenge the empirical premises claimed by these published reports. These sceptical authors find that many articles of questionable quality have been published in peer-reviewed journals, and claim that the current discourse on human trafficking is driven by mythology rather than empirical research. Rather than dwelling on gaps in our knowledge or concerns over the moral overtone in academic research, this paper seeks to raise specific research questions and explore possible field strategies that can advance our knowledge on this topic. Regardless of one's moral compass, the future of research on sex trafficking cannot become credible without a solid empirical foundation.

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  • Sheldon X. Zhang, 2009. "Beyond the ‘Natasha’ story -- a review and critique of current research on sex trafficking," Global Crime, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 10(3), pages 178-195, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:fglcxx:v:10:y:2009:i:3:p:178-195
    DOI: 10.1080/17440570903079899
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    Cited by:

    1. 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.
    2. Pierre Kopp, 2011. "Human Smuggling and International Financial Flows," Post-Print hal-01897962, HAL.
    3. Winkler,Stephen Joseph, 2021. "Human Trafficking: Definitions, Data, and Determinants," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9623, The World Bank.
    4. Pierre Kopp, 2011. "Human Smuggling and International Financial Flows," PSE-Ecole d'économie de Paris (Postprint) hal-01897962, HAL.
    5. Pierre Kopp, 2011. "Human Smuggling and International Financial Flows," Université Paris1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (Post-Print and Working Papers) hal-01897962, HAL.
    6. 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.
    7. 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.
    8. 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.
    9. Roy Huijsmans & Simon Baker, 2012. "Child Trafficking: ‘Worst Form’ of Child Labour, or Worst Approach to Young Migrants?," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 43(4), pages 919-946, July.
    10. 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.

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