“Lost” at the Crossroads: An Exploration of Human Trafficking

Abstract

Human trafficking impacts a growing population of people in today’s world. Due to mounting social, political, and economic problems and ongoing wars and conflicts, millions are now forced to leave their home countries and are trying to illegally immigrate to other countries in search of enhanced living conditions. That is why human trafficking urgently requires global attention. Various forms of human trafficking take place in the Global South. Türkiye, located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia and bordered by eight countries, plays a pivotal role in the recently escalating trafficking activities. As a well-established migration route and a strategic location, it is both a source and target country in human trafficking. This study aims at analyzing two award-winning Turkish movies, Seaburners and More, which depict vulnerability, exploitation, and struggle of the underrepresented minority, from the perspectives of children and women. The results, obtained through manifest and latent content analysis, will shed light upon this significant issue with the aim of contributing to the global fight against human trafficking. The study portrays vulnerabilities at the individual level and explores the potential social, political, and economic reasons and consequences of human trafficking through media works. © Journal of Underrepresented and Minority Progress.