Discussion

The survivors who participated in this research have provided comprehensive insights into their lives before, during, and after trafficking. Each of their stories is unique and highlights that no two experiences of trafficking are the same. There are, however, similarities in the quality of life or the personal challenges that participants experienced at the time they were trafficked, the current challenges they face, and the supports that have helped and continue to help them the most.

Minors are most at risk of being trafficked

Of the twenty-two (22) survivors who took part in this research, the majority were first trafficked between the ages of thirteen (13) and eighteen (18). Participants describe a variety of different relationships with their traffickers and situations in which they entered trafficking within this particular age range. One (1) participant revealed that she was thirteen (13) when she left home due to an abusive family and needed money to support herself. Another participant describes being abused by a junior high school teacher at the age of sixteen (16) who then shared her with others. A participant who was fourteen (14) at the time of being trafficked said that her friend had been trafficked and her boyfriend introduced her to trafficking.

Traffickers exploit the vulnerability of minors, especially those who do not have the requisite support through family or other social connections. During their interviews, participants repeatedly highlighted the importance of supporting youth, and especially those who are at-risk, through education that is both awareness and prevention based because they have themselves been these at-risk youth. They fell through the cracks and want to prevent it from happening again.

There is no one cause for trafficking to occur, but an unstable or negative family life is a common factor

Over half of participants specifically mentioned some aspect of a negative home life when asked about the challenges, barriers, and negative influences they were experiencing at the time they were first trafficked. However, the responses of participants indicate that this number is likely much higher. While participants did not all specifically refer to an unstable or negative home life, they did respond with factors such as homelessness, negative social relationships, personal mental health issues, personal drug use, leaving home or being thrown out at a young age, drug use at home, trauma, and living with a parent who has mental health issues.

All of these factors, when looked at more closely, indicate that their home life was not a nourishing and safe environment within which to develop into a regulated and healthy individual. Mental health issues and drug use at a young age alone demonstrate the use of adaptive coping strategies in order to emotionally self-regulate. Homelessness and leaving home or being thrown out at a young age are also clear cases that something was not right at home.

Growing up in a household with drug use at home, for example, indicates that the parents or guardians of that individual were themselves unable to properly regulate negative emotions resulting in a persistent negative emotional state (Maté 2018). This environment will very likely lead to the emotional dysregulation of the child as well because children are dependent upon adults to help them develop effective strategies for self regulation in the early years of their development, both biologically and socially, in order to function healthily as adults. The same is true for children living with a parent who has mental health issues: the child’s biological and social need to access an emotionally mature and regulated adult for healthy brain development is not met.

Fundamentally, the factors that participants identified as making them vulnerable to trafficking, such as a negative home life, are circumstances that likely led to early childhood trauma. Some participants used this term when answering the question about the challenges, barriers, and negative influences they experienced at the time of being trafficked. Participants described very stressful and chaotic circumstances in their childhoods that often lacked the necessary warmth and stability that a child needs to grow up mentally, emotionally, and physically healthy. The effects of continuous exposure to an unsupportive and unhealthy environment as a child is trauma (Maté 2003; van der Kolk 2014), which can express itself through risky behaviour, self-harm, poor judgement, and a hampered ability to healthfully and meaningfully connect with others.

Lived experience and trauma-informed care are key supports for survivors of human trafficking

Survivors repeated throughout this study that the best care they received was from trauma-informed staff and particularly staff with lived experience of human trafficking. Participants also spoke of being lumped into programs or services, such as domestic violence support groups, where they did not fit in, nor see themselves reflected in the program.

Empathy and non-judgment are essential parts of healing. Participants spoke of feeling isolation, shame, and having imposter syndrome. Receiving support from someone who has experienced similar trauma provides a depth of understanding that enables survivors to feel as though they can finally be themselves without judgment. The power of receiving non-judgemental support can be transformational as the survivor is given a safe and secure environment and a healthy and supportive relationship is exemplified. The lived experience staff member acts as a role model who is inspiring and insightful for the survivor. Therefore, the relationship itself becomes therapeutic.

Financial stress is a significant pressure in the lives of survivors after exiting trafficking, which may lead to re-entering sex work and possible re-exploitation

While participants may have successfully escaped trafficking, their lives continue to be marred by the trauma of such experiences. The most common and significant challenges that participants are currently facing are mental health issues, healthy friendships/relationships, finances, and processing or reliving trauma. This nexus of compounding factors creates an environment that negatively influences survivors.

Many participants spoke of challenging childhoods that likely led to a hampered ability to emotionally regulate since there were no positive influences at home or otherwise to support such development. The trauma related to trafficking only further undermines this ability, increasing the likelihood of substance abuse, risky behaviour, and further instability. Developing healthy relationships and establishing healthy connections in the “straight world” is therefore also less likely, further undermining their ability to support themselves emotionally and financially, and to survive within the “straight world”. Some participants also spoke of the struggles they endure managing symptoms of trauma, such as PTSD, flashbacks, nightmares, trouble sleeping, and ongoing anxiety. These factors only add to the already seemingly insurmountable challenges that many of these women face.

The majority of participants have expressed that finances or difficulty accessing stable work as a major significant challenge or barrier. The complex issues that these women face and the struggle to support themselves without financial support continue to put them at risk of exploitation. The majority of participants indicated that they had engaged in consensual sex work after exiting and described this work as temporary and intermittent, and at times due to their circumstances such as mounting financial pressures.