Colorblindness is a Privilege, Not a Choice
Throughout centuries of colonization, sexual exploitation of native women had become more and more prevalent. Where land was seen as property, bodies were seen as such too. Sex trafficking is not exclusive to women of color. However, the disproportionate amount of trafficking that women of color face needs to be highlighted and intentionally targeted. So let's narrow in on some facts to gain perspective on this issue:
The International Labor Organization stated that there are about 40 million people who are currently victims of human trafficking – those are just the ones we know about, which leads to fact #2.
Roughly only .04% of victims are identified. That means that 99.96% of victims of human trafficking go unseen or unheard.
71% of victims are female, while 29% of victims are male.
A majority of victims identified reside in Asia and the Pacific. Twenty-five million slaves were accounted for in these areas.
These facts exhibit the gravity not only of human trafficking in general, but how this industry has targeted women of color. Latina, Asian, and Black women are the dominant races of victims of trafficking. As a multi-racial woman myself, it is not only disheartening to read these facts, but it is terrifying as well. Joane Nagel defines the term “ethnosexuality” as “the intersection and interaction between ethnicity and sexuality and how each defines and depends on the other for its meaning and power.” The exploitation of women of color through mainstream media and societal stereotypes has caused our women to become hyper-sexualized by the public eye.
“Until we are all free, we are none of us free”
As an individual, it seems impossible to think of ways to change the way women of color are sold into what we know as modern-day slavery. Our job as advocates is to first create awareness of the disparities within our society regarding people of color. Advocating for victims of human trafficking is advocating for the 99.96% of hidden people in slavery, some of which you walk past on the streets. We don’t always have to build safe houses and donate to causes to create an impact. We need to start at the root of the issue in the way our society allows people of color to be pushed into the margins of humanity. The marginalization of people of color creates vulnerability within these communities, establishing an incline in the victimization of slavery.
The perpetuation of human trafficking takes place around the world, but it is also happening in our backyards. We don’t need to travel to Asia or Africa to see the effects that modern-day slavery has on a race of people. We need to be aware of how it looks within our communities, and we need to advocate for those who are pushed into the outskirts of society. The oppressive nature that our justice system takes part in only further perpetuates the stigma of people of color – especially concerning human trafficking. According to an article by REST, the disparities in race of trafficking victims are evident. Victims of the sex trade are disproportionately black women, whereas the buyers are typically white males. Human Rights First reported that in 2016, there were only 14,894 prosecutions and 9,071 convictions for trafficking globally.
As advocates, we must remember that by action, we influence a response. Claiming ownership over our stories, rights, and beliefs is the first step to realizing the privilege we adopt, whether from birth or over time. Recognizing the role we play in society is also about recognizing those who are not given the equity to participate in this society. Keeping people of color at the margins only allows for ethnocentricity to further perpetuate racial disparities. One is not considered free unless all are free.
About the Author
Kanoelehua Robinson is a Native-Hawaiian from the small town of Hilo, Hawai'i. She loves finding new music, napping on the beach, and traveling, and she is incredibly passionate about her culture. She likes to sing and play guitar, but she's not like, "you should make YouTube covers" good. With her passions in art, music, and indigenous cultures, she hopes to use them toward her future career as she studies Public Relations at Azusa Pacific University.