The Social Construction of Sex Trafficking: Ideology and Institutionalization of a Moral Crusade

Ronald Weitzer
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Ronald Weitzer: George Washington University, weitzer@gwu.edu

Politics & Society, 2007, vol. 35, issue 3, 447-475

Abstract: The issue of sex trafficking has become increasingly politicized in recent years due to the efforts of an influential moral crusade. This article examines the social construction of sex trafficking (and prostitution more generally) in the discourse of leading activists and organizations within the crusade, and concludes that the central claims are problematic, unsubstantiated, or demonstrably false. The analysis documents the increasing endorsement and institutionalization of crusade ideology in U.S. government policy and practice.

Keywords: prostitution; sex trafficking; moral panic; criminalization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2007
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (23)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:polsoc:v:35:y:2007:i:3:p:447-475

DOI: 10.1177/0032329207304319

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