Diya Ray

Abstract

The global movement of women has created a panic across borders in the 21st century, when it is suspected that they have been forced against their will to engage in sex work, which has manifested in the formation of what has come to be called the Rescue Industry (Augustin, 2007). Governmental agencies and efforts have been directed at 'rescuing' victims of trafficking from an assumption of coercion, force and victimhood. However, a closer look at the profiling of these individuals, the process of victim construction and the problematization of trafficking being equated to prostitution reveals that a significant number of so called 'rescued' women, do not wish to engage in or have no other choice in employment other than sex work and return to it soon after being released or 'rescued'. Who are the 'rescuers' and what are their motivations to rescue women who do not wish to be rescued? What is their role in immigration policy and law enforcement? Indeed, how does rescue serve the purposes of immigration?This thesis aims to explore and question the foundation of humanitarian governance through what has come to be called the 'rescue industry' -- the plethora of organizations, governmental, non governmental, international and humanitarian agencies and associated employees who are engaged in activities to rescue and rehabilitate these 'victims' of trafficking. An analysis of the reasons behind the activities of these efforts demonstrates that motivations range from curbing female and irregular migration, providing employment for a certain social elite (referred to in Laura Augustin's work later), to links with capitalism and profit. The visa and residence programs of the USA and the UK targeting victims of trafficking will be analysed as will the websites of several anti trafficking organizations, to illustrate the language, content, and rationale behind their efforts and whether these 'efforts' are indeed as altruistic as they seem. It is hoped that uncovering the role of personal agency and choice in these women's lives in light of broader structural factors such as economic and social disadvantage will demonstrate that a significant proportion of 'rescue' efforts are unwarranted and that a form of self serving humanitarianism is often in operation due to agendas other than the 'victim' in mind. Subsequently, this thesis will also make an original contribution to the body of existing literature, by attempting to investigate the links between the 'rescue industry' and capitalism -- to assess how the machinery of rescue positions women in 'rehabilitation' to meet the ends of a capitalist system, whether it is through the production and sale of consumer goods and services or through cheap labour; and finally, alternative modes of sex worker protection is viewed from the perspective of labor law and workers' rights.

Department

Center for Migration and Refugee Studies

Degree Name

MA in Migration & Refugee Studies

Graduation Date

6-1-2015

Submission Date

March 2015

First Advisor

Rieker, Martina

Committee Member 1

Awad, Ibrahim

Committee Member 2

Morrison, Dr. Ian

Extent

101 p.

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Library of Congress Subject Heading 1

Refugees -- Protection.

Library of Congress Subject Heading 2

Human trafficking.

Rights

The author retains all rights with regard to copyright. The author certifies that written permission from the owner(s) of third-party copyrighted matter included in the thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study has been obtained. The author further certifies that IRB approval has been obtained for this thesis, or that IRB approval is not necessary for this thesis. Insofar as this thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study is an educational record as defined in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 USC 1232g), the author has granted consent to disclosure of it to anyone who requests a copy.

Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval

Not necessary for this item

Comments

None

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