+ WHO ARE THEY?
Victims of sex trafficking are individuals who have been forced, tricked, threatened, coerced and/or manipulated into selling their bodies for sex in order to turn a profit for the individual trafficking them. Although this includes many adults, anyone under the age of 18 is automatically considered a sex trafficking victim by law. Victims come from all walks of life and are not specific to one ethnicity, social class, age or gender, though the majority reported in the trade are female.
+ HOW ARE THEY APPROACHED?
Victims are often targeted in open, public areas (transit stations, malls, bars, clubs, etc.), as well as in the security of their homes through social media and the internet. Victims are often approached by the traffickers themselves, however, sometimes they are befriended and tricked by other victims being pressured by their trafficker. Traffickers often gain trust by appealing to a potential victim’s wants and/or needs, whether that be attention, love, money or shelter.
+ WHY DO THEY AGREE TO SELL THEIR BODIES FOR SEX?
There are many psychological complexities that factor into this. Many victims suffer from prior child abuse, neglect and/or domestic violence, some have been through the foster care system, and others are runaways that have become homeless. Traffickers see these vulnerabilities and use them to their advantage, often tricking them into believing that they love them and will take care of them like no one ever has before. Other methods include threats of physical violence to them/their families, debt bondage or blackmail.
+ WHY DON'T THEY SEE THEMSELVES AS VICTIMS?
There are a variety of factors that create this mentality. For some victims, they are convinced that it was their choice, only later realizing they were coerced or manipulated. Many also find it difficult to admit being a victim of rape, violence and other forms of victimization. Survivors of sex trafficking often mention that the way people treated them and looked at them affected how they saw themselves. Societal stigmas regarding prostitution often leave victims feeling like they are not wanted by society and that they are not worthy of help.
WHO ARE THEY?
Victims of sex trafficking are individuals who have been forced, tricked, threatened, coerced and/or manipulated into selling their bodies for sex in order to turn a profit for the individual trafficking them. Although this includes many adults, anyone under the age of 18 is automatically considered a sex trafficking victim by law. Victims come from all walks of life and are not specific to one ethnicity, social class, age or gender, though the majority reported in the trade are female.
HOW ARE THEY APPROACHED?
Victims are often targeted in open, public areas (transit stations, malls, bars, clubs, etc.), as well as in the security of their homes through social media and the internet. Victims are often approached by the traffickers themselves, however, sometimes they are befriended and tricked by other victims being pressured by their trafficker. Traffickers often gain trust by appealing to a potential victim’s wants and/or needs, whether that be attention, love, money or shelter.
WHY DO THEY AGREE TO SELL THEIR BODIES FOR SEX?
There are many psychological complexities that factor into this. Many victims suffer from prior child abuse, neglect and/or domestic violence, some have been through the foster care system, and others are runaways that have become homeless. Traffickers see these vulnerabilities and use them to their advantage, often tricking them into believing that they love them and will take care of them like no one ever has before. Other methods include threats of physical violence to them/their families, debt bondage or blackmail.
WHY DON'T THEY SEE THEMSELVES AS VICTIMS?
There are a variety of factors that create this mentality. For some victims, they are convinced that it was their choice, only later realizing they were coerced or manipulated. Many also find it difficult to admit being a victim of rape, violence and other forms of victimization. Survivors of sex trafficking often mention that the way people treated them and looked at them affected how they saw themselves. Societal stigmas regarding prostitution often leave victims feeling like they are not wanted by society and that they are not worthy of help.