Separating Myth from Fact in Human Trafficking
Many people have serious misunderstandings about what human trafficking actually is. Let’s address a few common myths.
There’s a case to be made that the American public is more aware of human trafficking today than ever before. Part of this awareness comes, unfortunately, from the sheer magnitude of the crime – the business of selling other human beings has grown in the past decades, ballooning to an industry worth more than $150 billion in illicit profit, according to the U.S. State Department. Awareness has also grown through the many films, television shows, and podcasts that have dedicated time to exploring the crime. Awareness groups have sprung up all over the country championing the rights of victims and seeking justice against predators.
Make no mistake: increased awareness about the prevalence of human trafficking is a good thing. People need to know about this serious issue. But all this increased attention can bring serious misunderstandings about what human trafficking actually is. Many people might still think of a film like Taken, which depicts the story of a victim violently abducted, forced into the sex trade, and held captive by physical force. These ideas can reinforce myths about the crime of trafficking which, on the whole, are not true.
Here are a few misconceptions, and the truth behind the myth:
Myth: Trafficking is only a problem in poorer, developing countries.
This is blatantly untrue. Human trafficking – involving both sex trafficking and labor trafficking – occurs in every region of the United States, according to the Department of State. Oklahoma is no exception. In 2021, the National Human Trafficking Hotline received over 400 calls within the state, and 206 of those were from victims or survivors of human trafficking.
Myth: Human trafficking is always a violent crime.
Sensationalized movies often perpetuate the myth that human trafficking involves violent kidnappings or physical abductions – physically forcing the victim into a situation. But the vast majority of trafficking cases involve psychological means. Traffickers trick, manipulate, or threaten their victims into their trafficking situation. Sometimes, a victim doesn’t even know they’re being trafficked.
Myth: Human trafficking only affects women and girls.
Adult men and boys can be victimized, too – in fact, according to the Department of State, boys represent the fastest growing segment of identified human trafficking victims. That’s why The Spring stands ready to serve men and women of all ages who have escaped these harmful situations.
Myth: Victims are usually exploited by people they don’t know.
This is a particularly pervasive myth, but it isn’t backed up by the vast majority of cases. Many survivors share stories about being trafficked by those they know and trust – romantic partners, spouses, or family members. Predators often use romantic relationships or positions of trust to maneuver their victims into trafficking situations.
Myth: Victims of trafficking are always physically held against their will.
It's important to know that there are situations where this can be the case. But there are often complex psychological motivations for trafficking victims to stay in their situations. Sometimes, traffickers control the flow of basic necessities so that their victims form dependence. Sometimes, victims stay because of the family or emotional bond their trafficker has exploited. Sometimes, they simply don’t have the means to leave, or they fear reprisal if they do so. And, as we mentioned earlier, some victims have been so effectively manipulated that they’re not aware they are being trafficked.
These are only a few examples of the harmful myths about trafficking that are standing in the way of true understanding of the issue. Our friends at the Polaris Project have created a more comprehensive list, from which some of the above information has been drawn. You can find that here.
