Sex trafficking is a complex social problem with multiple contributing factors largely rooted in intersecting inequalities. Both in the United States and on a global level, interrelated inequities in gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, power, class, opportunity, education, culture, politics, and race are among the social phenomena that contribute to sex trafficking/CSE victimization. In this course, we will examine the dynamics of sex trafficking on a local and global level from various feminist and political perspectives, with particular attention given to the sexed and gendered social and structural conditions that impact sex trafficking. This course will cover the extent and nature of the problem, as well as current debates in the field, including demand, prevalence, experiences of survivors, types of sex trafficking, methods of traffickers, the role of weak social institutions, cultural dynamics, and global power dynamics. The course will also examine international, federal, and state legislation as well as organizational and grassroots efforts to prevent and respond to sex trafficking victimization. The aim of this course is to provide students with a holistic understanding of sex trafficking drawing from interdisciplinary sources and presenting a variety of perspectives.
Course Attributes: EN S; BU BA; AS SSC; AS SD I; FA SSC; AR SSC; UC CD; AS SC