Global Slavery and Women: Why Women Should Worry - Part I

The scourge of slavery is older than recorded history, though the current word - slavery - has more recent origins. Most writers note that the word 'slave' in the English language originates from the Middle English 'sclave' (Wikipedia, 2007) which can be traced back further through Latin and Greek and to the Slavs of Eastern Europe who became slaves. The term Slav itself is a more optimistic word that has little to do with the term slave because it means "to hear' and can be considered as a synonym for renowned or famous. It is this meaning inherent within the word Slav - rather than than debased form of that word slavery - that should cause women to begin 'to hear' the fact that slavery is growing at an alarming rate in our world, and women's rights are at the heart of the issue.

What Are Women's Rights?

In America, we are told there are clear-cut goals and standards in place for Women's rights. Equal pay for Equal Work is a common saying. At the turn of the last century, the cry was for the right to vote. In the 1960's, the goal became that Women should be able to live their lives to the fullest without worrying about discrimination. The World Bank created Millennium goals that specifically included the empowerment of women. Many other countries of the world have similar laudable goals but the sad fact is that women's rights are virtually nonexistent among the most populous Nations on Earth. Women have less access to education, jobs and economic resources than men.

UNIFEM, (United Nations Development Fund for Women), provides funding for many gender empowerment programs and economic projects around the world. The organization valiantly attempts to keep tabs on the role that economics plays in women's lives but there is widespread doubt about the effectiveness of the organization. UNIFEM itself released a booklet entitled 'Trafficking Persons - a Gender and Rights Perspective' which notes that trafficking in persons 'appears to be increasing and acquiring new dimensions in the recent context of globalization' (Trafficking Person - A Gender and Rights Perspective, p.5). In fact, this year China was added onto UNIFEM's list of Nations that heavily partake in the tragedy of human trafficking. UNIFEM's list categorizes the selling and enslaving of women into 'point of origin countries' and 'destination countries' - in other words, where they are taken from and the countries where they are shipped or sold to. China is just one of many countries that dominates the list as a strong base of operations for both the journey's end and the means of human trafficking and transporting.

Why are women the most prone to being enslaved? The answer is simple: women are primary objects of slavery because they have less rights than men in most parts of the world. And the recent rise of slavery simply underscores the fact that women are most often the ones who become enslaved.

Stereotypes

UNIFEM's booklet on 'Trafficking Persons' notes that women and young girls are more vulnerable to being trafficked because of women's 'perceived suitability for work'. Women are perceived as having fewer options - avenues of escape - and they are viewed as more adroit workers so they become enslaved at brothels and factories around the world. Simply put, women are seen as a source of free and disposable labor. And the problem is growing around the world rather than shrinking. Once commonly seen as a problem limited to parts of South East Asia, Eastern Europe and Africa, the slave trade has now extended to more developed nations. Ethan Kapstein, a correspondent for the Journal of Foreign Affairs, expresses his concern that developed nations - especially in the West - have not taken an active enough role to curb the growth of slavery and have therefore eroded attempts by world organizations to utilize international law to end the enslavement of women and children.

Back to the Slavs

In fact, severals Internet sites have reported the growing problem including an almost ironic article by Hillary White where she describes the fact that the slave trade is alive and well in Great Britain and now once again includes women from the Slavs of Eastern Europe. Slavery has come full circle back to the origins of the term and engulfed the Slavs within its global grasp. Slavery has reached pandemic proportions and woman and children are enduring almost endless suffering while being bought and sold in the marketplace.

Again, there are several factors that have contributed to ongoing rise in slavery but language, religious, cultural, economic and educational barriers to women in many countries reduce the ability of women to escape their servitude. Women who are caught up in the slave trade face violence or death if they seek out authorities and attempt to get help. Also, many women are simply deported back to the country when they began their journey if government authorities intervene at all into the problem.

Women Have a Special Role In Stopping Slavery

One of the chief reasons women are the target of slavery is because they have less access to education and jobs. Male dominated Western governments have failed to curb the practice so it is up to woman to stand up and demand an international ban to the practice of slavery. Bill Moyer, in a relatively recent article for PBS, notes that an 'important element for women in achieving economic equality for women is political power' (PBS, 2007) but few countries have a significant number of women in their respective governments. Simply put, it is up to legally, politically, economically and educationally empowered women to represent their members and end this illegal and immoral trade.

The next article in the series will focus on Education, International Law and the Slave Trade.

References:

Kapstein, E. (2007). Foreign Affairs - The New Global Slave Trade. retrieved July 6, 2007 from http://www.foreignaffairs.org/20061101faessay85609/ethan-b-kapstein/the-new-global-slave-trade.html

Moyer, B. (2007). Rich World, Poor Women. PBS retrieved July 5, 2007 from http://www.pbs.org/now/politics/womenlabor.html

UNIFEM (2003). Trafficking in Person - A Gender and Rights Perspective. retrieved July 7, 2007 from http://www.unifem.org/attachments/products/traffkit_eng.pdf

White, H. (2007). Britain Awakens to New Slave Trade in Bordellos. retrieved July 5, 2007 from www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/jan/07011109.html

Wikipedia (2007). Slavery retrieved July 5, 2007 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery/Etymology