From Vulnerability to Exploitation: Socioeconomic Drivers of Female Trafficking from Kano to Saudi Arabia

The study analyses the dynamics and socio-economic factors behind recruitment of female victims into the trafficking business from Kano State in Saudi Arabia using the proposed model which incorporates the push-and-pull theory of migration, feminist/gender-based power relations theory and rational choice theory. Using a qualitative research design, data was collected using fourteen (14) IDI and KII interviews conducted with trafficked returnees, family members, community leaders, immigration and law enforcement officials and recruitment agencies. The findings indicate that recruitment into trafficking occurs more through trusted social ties, friends, neighbours and agents who exploit social connections and success stories of migration, as opposed to physical force. Poverty, unemployment, lack of education and employment opportunities and cultural expectations of females to contribute to household welfare create conditions of push towards migration. Pull factors include financial gains and high demand for domestic workers under the Kafala system. From a feminist theory perspective, female trafficking takes place as a result of existing power differentials based on gender norms, and as such limits women's ability and autonomy. In rational choice perspective, traffickers engage in trafficking activities because of the high profit versus low-risk ratio while victims see migration and employment abroad as a rational and economic way out of poverty even if risky. Although travel is apparently legal, victimization starts after arrival at destination countries as they endure long work hours, loss of their documents and inability to move freely among other forms of exploitation.