“PUSH” and “PULL” factors directly influence and perpetuate human sex trafficking structures. These factors play an influence as potential victims of trafficking are both “pushed” and “pulled” into being trafficked mainly due to living in extreme poverty. Push factors include "lack of employment opportunities, poverty, economic imbalances among regions of the world, corruption, decline of border controls, gender and ethnic discrimination and political instability and conflict...these push factors are contrasted with the pull factors of demands for workers, the possibilities of higher standards of living, and the perceptions of many in poor communities that better opportunities exist in larger cities or abroad" (Shelley, 2010). Traffickers deceive families approaching parents to buy their daughters, telling lies that the girl will be gainfully employed in restaurants or bars, this is complemented by parents being willing to sell their children due to extreme poverty. Thus the family is seduced into the belief and expectation that the child will be able to support the family if they accept the proposed job and sell their daughter.
A cultural aspect of human trafficking is described using the concept of “filial piety” which “stresses that children are to be obedient, submissive, respectful, and to take care of the parents and self-sacrifice for the greater good of the family.” Advocates have noted that “this can be seen with Asian children who were trafficked and repeatedly explained how they put themselves at risk for the sake of the economic improvement of their families." and “Traffickers abuse power by exploiting those living in poverty, simultaneously manipulating and taking advantage of the filial piety cultural values and the cultural response to rape and prostitution.”
A cultural aspect of human trafficking is described using the concept of “filial piety” which “stresses that children are to be obedient, submissive, respectful, and to take care of the parents and self-sacrifice for the greater good of the family.” Advocates have noted that “this can be seen with Asian children who were trafficked and repeatedly explained how they put themselves at risk for the sake of the economic improvement of their families." and “Traffickers abuse power by exploiting those living in poverty, simultaneously manipulating and taking advantage of the filial piety cultural values and the cultural response to rape and prostitution.”
“Push factors exist because people are pushed out of poor countries where economic opportunity is extremely lacking and pulled into countries that have a higher level of economic prosperity with corresponding demands for cheap labor” (Bales, 2005 as cited in Jones, 2007). Many migrants have the potential to receive wages higher than in their home countries, they seek migration to take advantage of this opportunity while at the same time with the intention of sending the earned income back to their families, even though they are paid less than the prevailing rates in the receiving countries.
Traffickers understand and employ the push/pull factors to coerce their victims, usually poor and uneducated and without the ability to discern beforehand other risks, with promises of a better life and increased opportunity. Jones states that “countries that are prone to political unrest or have week or corrupt infrastructures combined with widespread poverty, are the breeding grounds for international networks” (Shelley, 2005 as cited in Jones, 2007).
Traffickers understand and employ the push/pull factors to coerce their victims, usually poor and uneducated and without the ability to discern beforehand other risks, with promises of a better life and increased opportunity. Jones states that “countries that are prone to political unrest or have week or corrupt infrastructures combined with widespread poverty, are the breeding grounds for international networks” (Shelley, 2005 as cited in Jones, 2007).