Perceptions of Sex Trafficking Survivors in the Christian Faith-Based Community: Resilient Overcomers and Worthy Women
Logan Knight, MSW, MA | September 24 | 11:45 AM-12:45 PM
Topic: Research, Conceptual | Knowledge Level: Intermediate
Christian anti-sex-trafficking has been critiqued as focusing on “rescue” and “repair” with little attention to survivors’ agency and self-determination (Kempadoo, 2012). The Christian community, however, mobilizes significant resources to address trafficking, often being the primary trafficking-related service providers in an area (Bernstein, 2018). As a foundation for improving respect, understanding, and collaboration between the Christian community, survivors, and other allies, it is therefore critical to examine the perceptions of sex trafficking survivors held by the Christian community. Fifteen church leaders across Ohio with interest in anti-sex trafficking were purposefully recruited for interviews. Three questions were used to uncover their perceptions of survivors: (1) What are your top ten words to describe survivors of sex trafficking? (2) Complete the sentence, “A successful survivor is someone who...” and (3) What are the differences between survivors who succeed and those who continue to struggle? Findings showed that positive descriptors such as “resilient” and “determined” outnumbered negative ones such as “wounded” and “victim”. Post-trafficking challenges were described as temporary states related to survivor’s past, rather than defining his/her identity. Respondents emphasized that while survivors needed support, they had the power, agency, and responsibility to transform their lives and the right to define that transformation. The study shows that concerns about the Christian community limiting survivors to “victim” stereotypes may not apply to all members. Identifying and partnering with Christian leaders whose anti-trafficking agendas are informed by survivors’ agency and self-determination may be a way to promote multi-sector collaborations that uphold survivors’ rights and dignity.
Presentation Objectives:
· Describe the study and highlight the importance of understanding Christian perceptions of sex trafficking survivors as a foundation for improving collaborations between the Christian community, survivors, and other allies
· Describe perceptions of the study respondents that overall foregrounded survivor’s dignity, agency, and self-determination
· Discuss implications and recommendations for anti-sex-trafficking partnerships between the Christian community and other parties, and recommendations for further research