Module 3 “East Europe and the Former Soviet Union”

· Introduction:

You will continue to use sociological imaginationto help develop a conceptualization of the social and cultural factors that undergird the acceptance of violence against women and sexual abuse. One major social factor contributing to this acceptance is language. Scott & Lyman (1968)use the concept of “accounts”to describe how people will mitigate proscriptions on behavior or speech through the use of excuses(admittance of wrong behavior, but denial of responsibility) and justifications(acceptance or responsibility, denial of pejorative quality of action). Different types of excuses are defined, but salient to your readings are biological drives (men just can’t stop themselves from having sex) and scapegoating (poor behavior is a natural response to other person’s behavior, ‘she was asking for it’). The categories of justification are, denial of the victim (woman deserved injury – women should be obedient) and self-fulfillment (entitlement to women’s bodies for personal use). As you progress through the semester we will continue to apply the concepts of sociological imaginationand accounts, in addition to other concepts.

The themes of poverty and desperation will arise many times throughout the readings and videos. Moldova is a small country that has endured unrest and instability for generations, and the result is that it is a hub for criminal activity and trafficking (in drugs, arms, and humans). Kara (2009) recounts the story of Katia, a Moldovan woman who was trafficked and re-trafficked numerous times. You will be introduced to Tania in the Frontline documentary. After being returned home to the Ukraine after being rescued in a raid on a brothel, she contemplates returning to the traffickers as a way to make money to send back home. You will find that those remittances play a major role in the complacency of governments and families in trafficking. Kara (2009) cites that 25% of the Moldovan economy is from remittance payments. You will see that economic factors play a major role in the proliferation of trafficking.

· Readings:

Kara (2009) Chapter 4 “Moldova and the Former Soviet Union”

Goodey, “Sex Trafficking in Women from Central and East European Countries” (see pdf link) 

· Video:

“Sex Slaves: The Global Sex Trade and Its Victims” (2005 on Kanopy)