Oblivious ‘Sex Traffickers’: Challenging stereotypes and the fairness of US trafficking laws

In this paper, we explore third parties who unexpectedly fell within the legal definition of a sex trafficker. The anti-trafficking lobby and media stories frequently portray traffickers as organised, psychopathic, violent, child kidnappers. We dismantle these depictions by showing unexpected people qualify traffickers. This paper incorporates findings from two studies involving eighty-five in New York City forty-nine Chicago. analyse how teenagers, drivers, boyfriends under US law. find that two-thirds them hold inaccurate views about difference between trafficking facilitating prostitution. Trafficking can be incidental or temporary, samples were often oblivious to their status, potentially resulting lengthy prison sentences. conclude calling for differential sentencing based on traffickers’ age, awareness campaigns designed alert distinctions pandering trafficking.