Trafficking Hadassah: Collective Trauma, Cultural Memory, and Identity in the Book of Esther and in the African Diaspora

The book Trafficking Hadassah explores the representation of sexual trafficking in the book of Esther and its parallels with the cultural memories,histories,and materialized pain of African(a) girls and women across time and space. It demonstrates how gender and racism intersect with other forms of oppression,such as legal oppression,resulting in the sexual trafficking of African(a) females. It examines the conditions and mechanisms by which the trafficking of the virgin girls is legitimated and normalized in the book of Esther and contemporary histories of Africana females. It also challenges ideologies and stereotypes that are used to justify the abuse and highlights the impact of the #MeToo and #SayHerName social movements on attention to the nameless,faceless African girls in the text.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 124 pages
Publication date: 29 January 2024
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The portrayal of sexual trafficking in the book of Esther bears striking similarities to the cultural memories, histories, and materialized pain experienced by African (a) girls and women across time and space, spanning from the Persian Empire to subsequent slave trade routes and beyond. Trafficking Hadassah sheds light on the enduring colonization and sexualization of Africana female bodies, which have been exploited for profit and pleasure, resulting in detrimental physical, mental, sexual, socio-cultural, and spiritual consequences for the affected individuals. It specifically focuses on sexual trafficking in both the biblical book of Esther and during the transatlantic slave trade to illustrate how gender and racism intersect with other forms of oppression, including legal oppression, which ultimately leads to the sexual trafficking of African (a) females. The book delves into the conditions and mechanisms by which the trafficking of the virgin girls (who are collectively identified) are legitimized and normalized in the book of Esther, alongside contemporary histories of Africana females. This critical examination challenges ideologies and stereotypes that are employed to justify abuse in both contexts and highlights the complicity of biblical readers and interpreters in violence against girls and women. Moreover, it sheds light on how the #MeToo and #SayHerName social movements have impacted the attention paid to the nameless, faceless African girls in the text.

This important book holds particular relevance for scholars studying the Bible, religion, gender, theology, and sex trafficking. It is also a valuable resource for those engaged in the related fields of Africana Studies, Trauma Studies, Post-Colonial Studies, Diaspora Studies, Critical Race Studies, as well as to the general reader. By exploring the intersections of gender, race, and oppression, Trafficking Hadassah contributes to our understanding of the complex dynamics that contribute to the sexual exploitation and abuse of African (a) girls and women. It serves as a powerful tool for advocacy, education, and social change, challenging us to confront the historical and ongoing legacies of violence and oppression and work towards a more just and equitable world for all.

Weight: 178g
Dimension: 137 x 216 x 9 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367769123