A Sociological Perspective

This chapter discusses how sociologists approach the study of social problems and phenomenon using a sociological imagination, including macrosociological and microsociological perspectives. It illustrates how using one's sociological imagination, and the macro- and micro-sociological perspectives, can inform the understanding of human trafficking. The chapter illustrates how applying sociological knowledge to trafficking can inform policies and practices established to eradicate this horrible crime. Micro-sociologists come from a variety of theoretical traditions, one important tradition being symbolic interactionism. Using a microsociological lens to inform our understanding of human trafficking includes examining how trafficking victims are defined and viewed by researchers, how they are socialized/resocialized, the impact of situational definitions on individuals' perceptions of human trafficking, and the causes and consequences of trafficked victims' stigmatized identities. The fact that human trafficking laws are evolving and that some formerly trafficked victims have experienced remarkable transformations in their lives suggests that individuals can sometimes change their perceptions and definitions of situation, as microsociologists would argue.