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The Historical and Digital Abuse of Women: From Geopolitical Weapon to Online Exploitation

Introduction

 

Throughout human history, women have been exploited under various political, economic, and cultural pretexts. From ancient warfare strategies to modern entertainment industries, and now through the anonymity of digital platforms, female bodies have been used as instruments of power, tools of control, and commodities of commerce. The exploitation of women is not a new social ill—it has merely evolved, reshaped by each era's technologies and ideologies.

 

This article traces the continuum of such abuse—from imperial conquests that weaponised women to weaken nations, to today's tech-enabled trafficking—demonstrating how the manipulation of womanhood continues under shifting disguises: fashion, cinema, "freedom", and digital marketing.

 

 

Historical Patterns of Female Exploitation

 

Historically, dominant empires and state actors used women as a means of weakening rival societies. The Romans took women as spoils of war, not only to assert dominance but to erase the identity of conquered tribes. Mongol invasions witnessed mass abductions of women to destroy family structures and tribal lineage. During colonial occupations, women were subjected to systematic abuse to send messages of fear and submission—whether in Africa, Asia, or the Americas.

 

In many cases, women were offered in political marriages, used as spies, or forcibly impregnated to dilute ethnic identities. Even religious institutions in medieval Europe and Asia confined women to roles that deprived them of agency while serving broader patriarchal and imperial agendas.

 

 

The Rise of Soft Power and Cultural Manipulation

 

With the decline of formal empires came new forms of control—cinema, fashion, and advertising. The image of the woman became a central figure in capitalist propaganda. Under the guise of beauty, love, or consumer freedom, women were placed in the spotlight to sell products, reinforce stereotypes, and promote ideals set by male-dominated industries.

 

In particular:

  • Hollywood and global cinema turned actresses into sexualised symbols of success and power.

  • The fashion industry promoted body exposure not as cultural celebration but as a commercial trend.

  • Television advertising continuously associated femininity with obedience, sensuality, or luxury—thus further detaching it from independence or intellect.

 

This shift—from overt violence to subtle commercialisation—blurred the lines between liberation and exploitation.

 

 

The Digital Age: Trafficking in the Name of Opportunity

 

Recent investigative reports, such as those by Sky News and the BBC, expose how modern traffickers use digital platforms under the veil of escort services to trap women into forced sex work.

 

Take the real-life example of Sarah, one of many victims:

Upon arriving in the UK for what she believed was a legitimate job interview, Sarah’s passport was taken. She was then sold into sexual slavery, forced to perform under coercion, and repeatedly trafficked online.

 

Sarah's case is one among thousands—75% of all trafficked women today are exploited through online platforms. Escort websites, social media, and messaging apps provide traffickers with near-complete anonymity and legal loopholes, enabling sustained abuse with little accountability.

 

In many situations, victims are migrants or asylum seekers, unfamiliar with the local language, laws, or available support. The digital brothel has become a modern battleground—silent, hidden, and devastating.

 

 

Freedom Misunderstood: From Liberation to Exposure

 

As modern societies champion individual freedom, many vulnerable individuals—particularly young women—have misunderstood "freedom" as permission to self-expose, not as protection or autonomy. The media's promotion of comfort as scant clothing, or liberty as unrestricted display, often traps the youth in cycles of self-objectification and external validation.

 

The truth is:

Freedom does not mean exposure. It means security, dignity, and informed choice. In the absence of critical education, many equate liberation with the same behaviours that traffickers exploit. Culture and fashion industries must bear shared responsibility for distorting these values.

 

 

Echoes of the Past in the Present

 

We are witnessing a dangerous repetition: just as past empires used women to weaken nations, modern traffickers and industries use women to profit—weakening communities, families, and the moral fabric of society.

 

Whether it is:

Female film icons cast in sexualised roles,

Young girls trafficked under the label of escorts or teenagers influenced by influencers to value their bodies over their minds.

We see the same foundational harm in modern disguise.

 

 

Recommendations

 

To counteract this deeply entrenched cycle of abuse, Small Drops proposes the following:

1. Strict Digital Legislation: Escort and dating websites must face scrutiny, regulation, and mandatory trafficking checks.

2. Empowerment Education: Teach youth the difference between self-worth and image marketing.

3. Global Survivors’ Network: Create cross-border rehabilitation, legal aid, and repatriation pathways for rescued women.

4. Media Accountability: Establish ethical guidelines for how women are portrayed in films, ads, and pop culture.

5. Cultural Reflection: Encourage community dialogue on reclaiming traditional values without enabling exploitation.

 

 

Conclusion

 

The tools have changed, but the core issue remains: women are still being used—first for war, then for wealth, and now for web-based trafficking. Societies must wake up to this evolution, recognising that misunderstood freedom, unchecked capitalism, and outdated cultural narratives continue to facilitate abuse in new forms. Sarah’s story is not rare—it is a warning. If freedom is to be meaningful, it must come with protection, understanding, and collective action.

 

References

 

 


© 2025 Balananthini Balasubramaniam (Nila Bala) | Small Drops.

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced without explicit written permission.



(Disclaimer: Images are AI generated and are used for representational purposes only)


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