ABSTRACT
Public concern about the issue of trafficking in persons has a long history; the history of concerns related to women’s economic independence, their mobility, and autonomy is still longer. Any change in women’s situations, particularly one that involves “unsupervised” women, brings to the fore a myriad of concerns, primarily focused on questions of morality and chastity. This has been observed particularly in the context of female migration, first in the historical migration of women from rural to urban areas, then in the context of international migration. Female migrants now outnumber male migrants, and the associated areas of concern include the age-old specters of trafficking in women and prostitution. These issues have in turn brought forth a wide spectrum of different reactions, with advocates for women advancing both protectionist and empowering ideals as solutions to perceived problems.
