Engaged Philosophy and the Public Philosophy Network are partnering to present a special interview series that highlights the work of public philosophers who will be presenting at the 2019 PPN Conference Oct 17-19, 2019.
Roksana Alavi is a renewable-term associate professor in the Interdisciplinary Studies Program at the University of Oklahoma Extended Campus (College of Professional and Continuing Studies); she contributes as well to OU’s Women and Gender Studies and Iranian Studies programs, and to its Social Justice Center. Her public philosophy combats human trafficking.
What type(s) of public philosophy do you do?
I have worked with issues related to human trafficking in the state of Oklahoma, serving in the state taskforce on human trafficking. My initial involvement was to learn. I wasn’t sure how I could use my philosophical training in this area, but I was moved to help. Human trafficking is a multifaceted crime, and it is hard to detect. It affects the victims physically, emotionally, and financially. The victims come from all sorts of backgrounds. They all have histories, families, hopes, and dreams, and they are violated day in and out. When they come into contact with law enforcement, often they are mistaken for criminals working as prostitutes. This is where we have to explore what human trafficking entails in order to properly identify victims and not victimize them again. Issues of agency and identity are at least two of the issues that must be addressed in working with human trafficking victims. In my encounters with NGOs, I have learned that not all of them recognize that people can be sex workers who do not need to be rescued. Philosophers are good at analyzing, defining, and evaluating. Identifying the causes, structures, and implications of human trafficking, and how that connects to economic and social systems, is essential for law makers to address this crime in a comprehensive manner.
Give an example of a successful project.
Our most successful project was developing training modules and making them available for training different groups of people—such as those in the health careers, lawyers, law enforcement personnel—as well as working with cultural diversity, and dealing with ethical issues that are raised working with vulnerable populations. Since the taskforce bring groups from different parts of the community, we are able to engage with practitioners while working on the training modules.
There are not many academics who are present in the state-wide taskforce on human trafficking. Actually, I think there are only two of us in a nearly 40-member committee. My ethics training helped with giving clear clear definitions and exploring implications of ethical assumptions that affect how professionals relate to victims. I wanted to address the issues of autonomy and choice. One of my aims in the committee was to help them recognize and respect the choices of the sex workers, hoping to minimize the likelihood that the sex workers will be disempowered, or sex trafficking victims revictimized and disempowered.
What benefits does doing public philosophy offer to the public(s) you engage? What benefits does it offer you?
I became engaged with human-trafficking–related issues as my public service and civil duty. The federal taskforce on human trafficking, as well as other protocols on fighting human trafficking have focused on the “4Ps,” which are prevention, protection, prosecution, and partnership. Most of my part in the 4Ps of fighting human trafficking has been on the side of prevention and partnership.Prevention addresses the social issues that causes some populations to be more vulnerable to exploitation than others. By giving awareness presentations to groups, I hope to help people be more mindful of their environment and those who might exploit them. I provide information to many different groups to bring about public awareness. These issues within the relevant committees sometimes end with policy (or behavior) change in responding to human trafficking.
Partnership is making alliances with at-risk communities and populations. We can do that by investing on youth programs, supporting at-risk adults to find gainful employment, and supporting local NGOs who cater to these populations.
Once I became involved with issues relating to human trafficking, in spite of my ethics training, I was ill-equipped to apply the theory to the situations and people I would encounter, but I was moved to take action. Being involved with many people in the community from different perspectives, disciplines, and fields, I have learned how to better think critically about these issues. I have more tools than I had before I became engaged in this area. Among the tools I have gained, I have learned how to listen to those in need, regardless of whether they are human trafficking victims, or whether they are friends in need. I have become confident to give my conceptual analysis, and challenge the assumptions of a group who might be doing fieldwork. Along the way, I have seen (not just heard) how we cannot be cautious enough when working with victims of violence. Sometimes giving someone a high five might trigger a victim’s anxiety about being slapped in the past.
What role does the PPN play in your philosophical work? What role do you play in the PPN?
I didn’t become involved thinking this area would affect the way I do philosophy. However, I have published in the area, and have become engaged in the topic from a philosophical perspective.
I have learned that ideal theories do not give adequate tools for evaluation. My traditional training in analytic philosophy has been challenged not only by my own personal experiences of being a woman of color and immigrant, but by the experiences of working in this area and meeting victims of both human trafficking and domestic violence. Ideal theories are common in philosophy. We create beautifully coherent theories that often do not work in the real world because we do not live our lives in ideal ways, and our lived experiences and circumstances add morally relevant factors in the decision-making process that are not accounted for in ideal theories.
What advice do you wish someone had given to you before you started doing public philosophy?
Decide what you care about, and show up, watch, listen, ask, and when you are ready increase your involvement. I didn’t jump in voicing my opinions, and demanding to be heard. I showed up to learn. I have slowly increased my involvement and continue to do so. The taskforce allowed me to learn how to engage with practitioners.
What has been your biggest obstacle in doing public philosophy?
The lack of training in how to use my skills in philosophy to engage with public, even though my areas of interest in philosophy have always related to issues of justice. Although I have been taught issues of identity, ethics, and agency, I was at loss at how to use my knowledge to navigate the “real world” issues.
What is your favorite quote and why?
“Be the change you want to see in the world.” This reminds me to act in ways that I would like to see people acting personally, socially, and politically.
Did you have an experience as a student or in your life that lead you to embrace your public philosophy?
I grew up in Iran and immigrated to the United States when I was 15. I witnessed many injustices committed by the government and by a culture that favored men and put little value on women’s lives outside of their primary domestic roles. My household was somewhat different. My parents have always been social-justice minded people, and held solid beliefs about the inherent value of people regardless of their backgrounds. I followed in their footsteps. Being a survivor of attempted sexual assault, and taking a course on Women and Violence pushed me to act. I feel like my privileged position in the community obligates me to get engaged.
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