This morning I watched an intriguing debate on the BBC on “Human Trafficking”. Laura Agustin (known as the “Naked Anthropologist”) voiced dissent on a panel as she urged policy makers not to overgeneralize the condition of migrant workers worldwide. In particular, Agustin stated that not all migrant workers are forced unwillingly into working abroad. Moreover, definitions of smuggling and trafficking must be considered before characterizing all migrants as victims.

Like-minded individuals within the area of trafficking advocate for universal policies regarding migrant workers. Agustin is a  refreshing voice working on the fringe towards a future where a myriad of voices are considered before shaping protocol. Contrary to the celebrities present at this debate like Ashton Kutcher or Mira Sorvino, Agustin does not sermonize the plight of migrants. Instead, she addresses key assumptions, or misperceptions, that social advocates have about migrants worldwide. In many ways, Agustin’s viewpoint could drastically change not only the discussion about migrant work, but also how policy is shaped within this domain in the future.

How can futurists consider a range of human conditions without playing into popular stereotypes of marginalized human populations?