Supplying the Demand

***CAUTION - The Following Blog/ Mini-Essay Contains Some Course Language***

In the article, “Women and Globalization” Burn writes, “sexual tourism is another effect of globalization and it is made possible by a globalized system of communication and transportation”. Globalization, specifically sex tourism, creates a demand for the sex trade and contributes to the endangerment of women. The growth of sex tourism has created an increased demand for the volume of women participating in the industry; therefore encouraging the growth of the sex trade. By engaging in sex tourism men both fund and contribute to the abuse of women who are victim to the sex trade. For these reasons I believe that although Western men engaging in sex tourism do not directly participate in the trafficking of women they significantly contribute to the motivation for the industry.

Defining Sex Tourism and the Sex Trade

            Sex tourism refers to the “hundreds of thousands of men...who travel to other countries for sex holidays” in which they engage in sexual acts with local women (Burn 179). Although sex tourism is not exclusive to men, the majority of those who participate in these activities are white, privileged, Western, males. For some men, ‘sex tourism’ acts as a value-added activity during business trips or vacations and for others engaging in sexual encounters with foreign prostitutes  is the sole purpose for their travel (Jeffreys 141). In describing sex tourism in the Ukraine, documentaries paint a picture of the Ukraine as a nation of available, submissive women that can be fucked, beaten, married, discarded, divorced, and killed. Furthermore, sex tourism is in many ways directly connected to the sex trade, which, as will be discussed in this analysis, serves the demand the sexual tourism industry creates. 

The sex trafficking industry is one which recruits, transports, transfers and harbours persons by means of threat, force, abduction, cohesion or deception for the purpose of sexual exploitation (Burn 179). In her article, “The challenge of human trafficking and contemporary slavery” Lusk defines human trafficking, specifically the sex trade as ‘modern slavery’ writing, “Institutionalized slavery was outlawed worldwide by the mid-1800s and yet modern slavery has re-emerged over the past three decades, facilitated by the globalization of industry and an increase in the use of sex for monetary gain, including the emergence of sex tourism” (Lusk 49). The sex trade fosters extremely dangerous and inescapable situations for women, whom are often victims of poverty. These women, many underage, are often unknowingly sold into the industry by their families, who believe their children will work as maids, dishwashers or nannies. However these women are sold into prostitution and pornography rings, underpaid and controlled by debt bondage (Burn 181). They suffer from violent rapes, beatings and diseases, often receiving absolutely no help from local authorities.  

Analysis: Serving the Demand

           

In her book, “The Industrial Vagina” Jeffreys’ explores the factors which create a demand for sex trafficking. She writes, “[demand factors] are rarely addressed, because in the case of trafficking for prostitution, it means addressing the sex industry itself and forms of privileged male behaviour...which are important to masculine male dominance” (Jeffreys 169-170).   The rapid growth of globalization and increased participation in sex tourism creates a demand for an increased volume of trafficked women. Given there are more men seeking to participate in sex tourism that there are willing women participants there is a high profit margin for the industry and therefore increased opportunity for the enslavement of these women.

In recent years sex tourism has become increasingly normalized and described by many scholars as a ‘leisurely’ activity (Jeffreys 135). In many countries, such as Thailand and the Ukraine, sex tourism is openly regarded as a common aspect of the tourist experience. Although it is not openly supported by the government, it acts as a significant source of revenue for the country and as a result is often ‘overlooked’ (Burn 181).  In her book, “Unpacking Globalization” Lucas explores the parallels between the growth of the tourism industry (specifically sex tourism) and the growth of the sex trade, she writes, “In many places, the sex trade is part of the entertainment industry and has similarly grown” (Lucas 29). By creating a resource demand for foreign prostitutes, Western men inherently promote and finance the sex trafficking industry.

In addition to creating a demand for the volume of women required to service the sex tourism industry, the nature of the sexual encounters Western men seek promotes abusive and harmful treatment of the women who are victim of the sex trade. Western men are often attracted to the ‘otherness’ of these women however their appeal is much more complex than physical attributes.  As Jeffreys’ notes, what is often most attractive to these men is the empowerment and dominance over ‘submissive’ foreign women that sex tourism offers (Jeffreys 139). Unlike Western prostitutes, the women who are victim to the sex trade and thus sex tourism are often more ‘willing’ to accept abuse and mistreatment. Male tourists’ motivation for and attitude towards engaging in sex with these women often reflect the ways in which these women are treated by sex traffickers. Furthermore the psychological effects of being forced into the sex trade often lead to extreme self-mutilation and drug use (Jeffreys 149).

Conclusion

In recent years the relationship between sex tourism and the sex trafficking industry has become increasingly evident.  As sexual tourism grows and becomes more normalized, it creates a strong demand for the sex trade and in turn, the endangerment of women. As there are more men seeking to participate in sex tourism than there are willing women participants, the industry both encourages and funds sex trafficking. In addition, the attitudes and expectations of most men participating in sex tourism influence the psychological and physical abuse of female victims. Furthermore, by engaging in sex tourism men not only support the abuse the sex trade fosters, but often directly contribute to the abuse of these women. In order to help the enslaved women who are victim to the sex trade, Westerners must work to create awareness for the relationship between sex tourism and human trafficking. We must also create stronger international laws, which recognizes this connection and creates accountability for Western participants. By eliminating the demand sex tourism creates we will help to bring an end to the sex trafficking of women and the enslavement and endangerment of its female victims.

Work Cited

Burn, S.M (2004). Women and Globalization. McGraw-Hill

Lucas, L. (2007). Unpacking Globalization. Lanham: Lexington.

Lusk, M. (2009). The challenge of human trafficking and contemporary slavery. Texas: Routledge.

Jefferys, S. (2009). The Industrial Vagina. New York: Routledge.

Jefferys, S. (2003). Sex Tourism: Do women do it too" Taylor and Francis.