Prostitution And Sex Trafficking

With human trafficking being an already severe crime in the United States, the sex trade industry is what has so many young womens lives turned upside down. With the single largest demographic age for targets and victims being between the age of 12 and 15, the long term-impacts are more horrendous than any other (Chaffee & English, 2015). Although the age of 12 thru 15 is when a vast majority of girls are first exploited, the age can range tremendously. However, it is supported that a great deal of the youth vulnerable to a future in the industry are but not limited to, runaways, homeless children in the foster system, or those who have been prior subjects of abuse (Greenbaum, 2014). Since a large amount of research suggests that a majority …show more content…
Due to the little amount of knowledge there is regarding numbers and risks of sex trafficking, prostitution being a better known subject, can be used as an approximation. It can be innately known that women in the sex industry, along with other exploited populations, often suffer from poor nutrition, experience dangerous working conditions, and are at an increased risk for exposure to infectious diseases (Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 2015). As a result of repeated and intrusive trauma involved in sexual exploitation through physical and sexual abuse, victims of sex trafficking report psychological damage, ranging from restrictions on their movement and fear of retaliations. Research has found that there is a consistent belief that these victims experience extensive violent victimizations throughout their lifetimes; 6 in 10 have been threatened with a weapon; 7 in 10 have been physically assaulted; 6 in 10 have been raped or sexually abused; 5 in 10 reported physical injury due to violence; and 7 in 10 reported having freedom of movement restricted (Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 2015). It is clear that the trauma related to trafficking has been well acknowledged, however the health of trafficked victims has been particularly ignored. With the exception of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS, the health consequences associated with the trafficking of women are little known. The U.S Department of Health and Human Services provided a national symposium identifying the severe and multifaceted mental health issues related to trafficking victims, including posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety and mood disorders, dissociative disorders, and substance related disorders (Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 2015). Nonetheless, there is little research to support these findings