7 Human Trafficking Myths
Human trafficking may be one of the most feared and least understood crimes. Learning the truth about trafficking helps people understand it, spot it, and stop it. Here are some of the most common myths—and the facts to set the record straight.
1. Myth: Trafficking is almost always a violent crime.
Actually, many survivors of trafficking were carefully manipulated into exploitative situations rather than being kidnapped or otherwise physically forced. The coercion most human traffickers use is psychological, involving “threats, tricks, and defrauding.” Most survivors also knew their trafficker—whether as a romantic partner, a family member or at least an acquaintance. In any case, trafficked individuals are certainly at a higher risk of experiencing violence as long as they are exploited for profit.
2. Myth: Human trafficking means sex trafficking.
Yes, but human trafficking is not just limited to sex trafficking. The International Labor Organization estimates that of the 40 million people in active trafficking situations, 25 million are trafficked for labor. Labor trafficking, then, accounts for more than half of the current victims of trafficking in the world. Of those in forced labor, 24 percent are domestic workers, 18 percent work construction, 15 percent work in manufacturing and 11 percent in agriculture and fishing. It is important to note that these statistics only cover adult cases for which the type of labor was known. Domestic servitude and factory labor are most common, but labor trafficking also occurs in the hospitality industry, in car wash businesses and nail bars. Unfortunately, forced labor is less frequently detected and reported than sex trafficking, so its statistics are often incomplete and misleading.
3. Myth: Only women and girls are victims and survivors of trafficking.
Women and girls are indeed disproportionately affected by trafficking, but men and boys are also forced into both labor and sex trafficking. About 30 percent of individuals in active trafficking situations—about 12 million people—are male. Unfortunately, male victims are less likely to be reported, especially in sex trafficking situations. Along with young men, LGBTQ and nonbinary individuals are particularly vulnerable to trafficking.
4. Myth: Trafficking is mainly a problem in developing countries.
Trafficking occurs everyday in the U.S. and other industrialized countries, too—it affects every country in the world. This criminal industry generates an estimated US $150 billion in profits annually worldwide. Almost one-third of this profit (US $47 billion) is generated entirely from trafficking in developed nations, namely the European Union and United States. The U.S. alone deals with both sex and labor trafficking in every state.
5. Myth: Trafficking entails some form of travel or transportation across borders.
Trafficking does not necessarily entail movement across state or national borders—that’s human smuggling. However, smuggling can turn into trafficking “if the smuggler uses force, fraud, or coercion to hold people against their will for the purposes of labor or sexual exploitation.” “Human trafficking” simply refers to the coercive monetization of another human against their will, whether they are moved or kept where they are. Indeed, trafficked individuals are often recruited from their own home towns, sometimes even their own homes.
6. Myth: Victims of trafficking want to escape and will ask for help.
In fact, individuals who experience trafficking do not always actively seek help. Every trafficking situation is unique. The Polaris Project notes that “fear, isolation, guilt, shame, misplaced loyalty and expert manipulation are among the many factors that may keep a person from seeking help.” Some trafficked individuals have been so thoroughly manipulated that they are unable to self-identify as a victim or recognize that they have rights. Others fear retribution from their trafficker or are trapped by their lack of identification documents.
7. Myth: There’s nothing I can do to stop trafficking.
Actually, there’s plenty you can do to join the fight against human trafficking. Our daily lives constantly bring us all into contact with this industry, whether through the food we eat, the clothes we wear, or the people we pass on the street. You can help by learning about the red flags of human trafficking and how to report suspicious activity (hint: call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888). Becoming aware of the things you consume, whether food or clothing or other products, is also helpful—it cuts down on the demand for unethically-produced goods. Consider committing to only shop ethically (check out Dressember’s Ethical Shopping Directory!) and double-check unethical sourcing with tools from Fashion Revolution and the Department of Labor.
Fact: Your participation in the fight against trafficking is invaluable.
Educate yourself and avoid the misinformation—your voice and your efforts matter. Follow Dressember’s blog and Instagram for reliable information on trafficking and how you can get involved!
About the Author
Emmy Luker is a writer and MDiv candidate at Fuller Theological Seminary. She is passionate about speaking and writing about what is true, and doing it in a way people can and want to hear. Originally from Colorado, she is a big fan of alpine views and mountain hikes, but she is learning to love the wind and the lake as a recent transplant in Chicago.