Images can be compelling without evoking negative emotions. Some images are intended to rattle the viewer, leave them horrified, and perhaps angry enough to contribute to a cause. However, the horror displayed in these images can also be a reality for many. Therefore, society must question whether the use of these images is appropriate for depicting that reality.
For example, take the image of a barcode tattooed on a woman’s body that is frequently used by the media to portray a victim of human trafficking. The Diplomatic Courier’s article entitled “Sex Slaves or Prostitutes, How Human Trafficking is Hidden in Plain Sight in America’s Capital”, uses a photograph revealing the mark of a barcode on a woman’s back, above the word “SLAVE”. Presumably, the photographer’s intention was to depict the dehumanization that occurs in the process of trafficking. However, these images only further perpetuate the dehumanization rather than acknowledging the survivors as complex human beings.
Such images are common – they are meant to draw attention to the anti-trafficking movement, but simultaneously lack respect for the victim by objectifying their bodies and sensationalizing their experiences. For example, images meant to draw attention to poverty similarly show dirty, partially-clothed, and oft-crying children. Perhaps the perception is that happy, smiling children do not invoke enough empathy to bring in donations. Or maybe it comes from a belief that only images relaying suffering will catch a reader’s attention. But survivors of human trafficking remain human beings despite the horror of their experiences. The word ‘SLAVE’ reveals nothing about their identities. As Dana Bruxvoort notes in a post on the Human Trafficking Center’s blog about the same image, “Placing the word ‘slave’ on the woman’s bare shoulder imposes a label she most likely has not chosen for herself, and this label ignores the complexities of human trafficking.” In essence, labels like these silence the victim’s voice and replace it with a homogenous and simple concept that is more easily enveloped into society’s perception of the issue. Ignoring both the nuances of the issue and the diversity in the population it affects contributes to misinformation in the public and enhances a lack of understanding.
Therefore, it would seem fitting that if we desire to acknowledge the dehumanization which occurs in trafficking, these photos should portray not the horror that the victims experienced, but rather the survivors themselves. Images are powerful in their ability to alter perceptions, as Clawson and Trice discuss in, their article entitled, “Poverty as We Know it: Media Portrayals of the Poor”. The authors note that, “People and events that appear in photographs accompanying news stories are not simply indicative of isolated individuals and occurrences; rather, the photographs are symbolic of ‘the whole mosaic.’” Put more succinctly, articles meant to draw attention to issues of human trafficking should not contain images that further objectify victims. Instead, these images should work to depict the humanity of the individuals for whom this is, or has been, a reality. Photographers like Xyza Bacani and organizations like WorldWE, whose work depicts the humans who survived trafficking rather than the horror they experienced, serve as examples for the potential in using more positive images with regards to human trafficking.
Images that reflect the resiliency and strength of those who have survived human trafficking can raise awareness in a way that remains respectful. Change happens when we focus on the people affected by human trafficking. Using positive imagery to tap into the humanity of the issue holds the potential to bridge societal gaps and create lasting change.
All views expressed herein are personal to the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law or of Villanova University.
Emma Sullivan is currently a first-year law student at Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. Emma is from Parker, Colorado and received her BA from the University of Oklahoma in International Relations and Area Studies with minors in African and Latin American Studies. After graduation, Emma hopes to work towards addressing the topic of violence against women in international policy.