(De)Constructing Stereotypes: Media Representations, Social Perceptions, and Legal Responses to Human Trafficking

Author: Rodríguez-López, Silvia

Abstract: The way the media portray human trafficking has a significant influence on the construction of social perceptions and, consequently, on the development of a legal framework to fight this crime. Stereotypical ideas, based on the existence of an “ideal victim,” which oversimplify the complexities of human trafficking and leave potential victims unprotected, have always been present in anti-trafficking laws. From the first conventions for the suppression of the so-called “white slave trade” to the most recent legislative changes, the treatment of trafficking has focused exclusively on prostitution, migration, and organized crime. Only recently has this focus shifted slightly toward a more comprehensive approach, centered on the protection of victims. Through a critical analysis of the historical evolution of international and European law, this article will illustrate the close interrelation between media, social awareness, and legal responses to human trafficking.

Keywords: Criminal law, gender, human trafficking, media, social perceptions