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Myths that Perpetuate Trafficking (and Facts that Break Chains)

Part Three in a three-part series

Today, at least 50 million people are enslaved by the evil that is human trafficking. Though it is frequently punishable by law, the horrific realities are often hidden behind closed doors. To make matters worse, the shadowy nature of human trafficking contributes to many misunderstandings which allow the industry to thrive. In the spirit of National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, here are a few myths that confuse and hinder the efforts to combat human trafficking in our own communities, nationally, and across the globe.

It is of note that this is not an exhaustive list.

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Myth: There’s nothing you individually can do about trafficking.

Fact: There are many actions you can take as an individual within a community to reduce the risk of trafficking and the number of people being trafficked. Educating your community on tell-tale signs of trafficking and where trafficking risks abound is incredibly important. Women At Risk, International provides a number of resources to help individuals combat trafficking, including a tip hotline and materials on how to recognize the signs of trafficking, who to contact if you recognize areas of concern, and how to build relationships and trust in order to build and maintain circles of protection within those communities.

Myth: Most victims are kidnapped or forced into sex trafficking.

Fact: One of three trafficking victims are runaways, but only three percent of trafficking victims are kidnapped as part of their induction into the industry. Over ninety percent of victims know or are in community with their traffickers, and traffickers frequently trick their victims into the sex trade by offering them better jobs or more consistent work. More recently, traffickers are using older “cool” girls at school to recruit younger girls into sex slavery. This can take a number of forms, but it is particularly important for parents to know where their children are and to make sure their children know that they (the parents) will give them a ride home at any time.

Myth: Only pretty girls are trafficked or only poor girls are trafficked.

Fact: Anyone can become a victim of trafficking. Traffickers are experienced at targeting marginalized youth and will go after anyone who they think will be an easy target. Targeting of vulnerable youth has been on the rise in recent years, as has targeting of physically and mentally challenged youth or adults. To give an example of the latter, if a girl has the body of an eighteen-year-old but the mind of a five-year-old, she’s incredibly vulnerable. Poverty is certainly an at-risk demographic, but the flip side is that materialism in upper-middle-class families can be a powerful lever in endangering girls in those families who want luxury items but can’t or don’t want to put in the hours necessary to earn them.

Myth: You don’t need to explain the dangers of trafficking to protect your children.
Fact: Failing to explain risks and signs that put them at risk endangers children and reduces their ability to be aware and protect themselves. Keeping them in the dark may “keep them innocent,” but in the words of one survivor, her parents’ silence ultimately made her more stupid than innocent. In the age of the internet, children will receive messaging about sex and sexuality far earlier than they should, and it is on parents to ensure that their children’s first education comes from them, rather than less reputable sources. Informing your children also enables them to know what the risk factors in their friends’ lives are, expanding the circle of protection to include even more of the community.

Join us in facing the reality and breaking the chains of modern slavery!

Attend a Civilian First Responder Training Conference to learn how you can rise up against trafficking.

Host a pop-up boutique to educate your community and support survivors on their healing journeys.

Read Part One in the series here.

Read Part Two in the series here.