Exploitation and Criminalization at the Margins: The Hidden Toll on Unvalued Lives

Exploitation and Criminalization at the Margins: The Hidden Toll on Unvalued Lives explores the causes and consequences of discrimination experienced by vulnerable populations in the areas of policing, criminal justice, sex trafficking, intimate partner violence, immigration, (dis)ability, politics, substance abuse, and food insecurity. The contributors—many with firsthand experience—argue that children, women, people of color, immigrants, and numerous “others” are systemically devalued by institutions and authority figures. By indicating that some lives are worth less than others, it becomes possible and even socially acceptable to deny these groups assistance and resources, which in turn increases the risk and harm these marginalized communities face. Centering lived experiences, this work challenges discriminatory assumptions, presenting alternative pathways to equity that emphasize human dignity, compassion, empathy, and collaborative social justice.