Sex Trafficking: Not Just Girls

The conversation around sex trafficking is becoming more common, as organizations such as the End It Movement work to shed light on an issue that is largely hidden in society. Even as the discussion of sex-trafficking expands, we’re still not getting the full picture. We tend to assume only women and girls experience this type of trauma—after all, these are the stories heard most commonly in the media. The reality is, sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation are non-discriminatory. Men and boys are trafficked and exploited everyday.

USA Today broadens the conversation by sharing the experience of a sex trafficking survivor from Indiana. He was sexually abused by a family member, and trafficked to other men out of a hotel room during the Indy 500. The abuse spanned several years, ending when he was 13 years old. As a child, he believed this was a normal part of growing up. It was only as an adult that he, with the help of his wife, realized that he’d experienced trauma, and the significant impact it had on him.

Unfortunately this isn’t an uncommon story.  A 2016 study by the Department of Justice found roughly 36% of the US sex trade to be boys, with another study by ECPAT-USA calling the commercial sexual exploitation of boys “vastly under reported.”

A few of the myths and barriers to disclosure for boys and men who experience sex trafficking are:

    • They believe they can’t be a victim because sex trafficking “only happens to girls.”
    • They believe they should have been “man enough” to be able to stop the abuse from happening due to masculinity standards.
    • Homophobia, and fear they will be called gay (or if they identify as gay/transgendered, that they won’t be believed)
    • They fear others believe that abused men always become abusers.
Many of these barriers come from our views of trafficking, and masculinity. How can we help? Realize trafficking can, and does, happen to anyone. Encourage men and boys to express their emotions, and validate them.  Know the signs of trafficking, and seek help from a licensed therapist when needed.

If you or someone you know has experienced, or is currently experiencing sex trafficking, please call the National Human Trafficking Hotline, at 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733.

At GROW, we are honored to walk with survivors of sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation, as well as family members who are subsequently impacted.

Courtney Hintermeyer, MA, LAPC

 

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