Although a vast majority of sex trafficking victims identify as female, the fight to end commercial sexual exploitation is far more than “just a feminist issue.” While the statistics might seem to support this common misconception, it blatantly overlooks the thousands of men and boys that are victims of sex trafficking.
This failure to recognize male victims of commercial sexual exploitation is “deeply rooted in assumptions, stereotypes and stigmas, keeping [them] from receiving the specialized services they need.”
According to a report published by ECPAT-USA, a non-profit organization dedicated to ending the commercial sexual exploitation of children, the anti-trafficking movement can take proactive steps to ensure that male victims of sex trafficking are no longer overlooked. These steps include:
- Acknowledging the existence of commercially sexually exploited boys and young men (including both GBTQ and heterosexual males— with attention to their different circumstances and needs), their risk for physical and mental health harm, and their need for services;
- Raising awareness among local and federal law-enforcement officers and foster-care agencies that males in the sex trade are victims whose fear of stigma and rejection exacerbates their denial and prevents them from acknowledging their victimization;
- Establishing screening and intake systems for commercially sexually exploited males at runaway and homeless youth centers and social service agencies, and conducting sensitivity training for workers to recognize the commercial sexual exploitation of males;
- Supporting the establishment of male-focused anti-trafficking agencies with staff trained to meet the needs of commercially sexually exploited males;
- When appropriate, encouraging agencies and service providers that focus on females to expand their mandate to include males, and to hire and train male workers;
- Encouraging collaboration among organizations that already address commercially sexually exploited boys and young men, and advocating for wider recognition among law enforcement, the public health community, policy makers and the public of their existence;
- Conducting further research on LGBTQ youth regarding advantages and disadvantages of gender-specific or co-ed service agencies;
- Conducting research regarding the health impact of sexual exploitation on boys and young men; and
- Revising existing statutes to make it easier to prosecute exploiters even when there is no pimp or trafficker involved.
In order to effectively identify and assist all victims of commercial sexual exploitation, the anti-trafficking movement can, and must, diligently work to combat the notion that it is “just a feminist issue.” Commercial sexual exploitation must instead be framed as the human rights issue it truly is.
Emily Schrank is a first-year law student at the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. Emily is from Greenville, South Carolina. Prior to coming to law school, Emily received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Notre Dame. After graduation, Emily hopes to work in the public interest field.
