Gendered Dynamics of Cross-Border Bride Trafficking to China

• In Event: Trafficking in Organized Crime

Abstract

Women’s involvement in cross-border bride trafficking has been a subject of growing academic inquiry, yet their specific roles within these trafficking networks and the factors that influence their participation remain insufficiently explored. While existing literature often portrays women in trafficking as either victims or facilitators, a more nuanced examination reveals their diverse and complex roles. To address this gap, this study conducts a content analysis of 607 Chinese court judgments to investigate the specific roles women occupy in cross-border bride trafficking networks. In particular, we examine the second wave of trafficking led by women from North Korea and compare their involvement with that of women from Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Cambodia. By adopting this approach, we aim to identify patterns in women’s participation, interrogate the socio-economic conditions that shape their involvement, and explore how these factors intersect with broader structural inequalities, including poverty, limited economic mobility, and gendered vulnerabilities.

Authors

• Shuai Wei, University of Liverpool

• Pan Fan, The University of Hong Kong