Survivors of Sex Trafficking: How Could They Revive?

Abstract

The aim of this study is to identify factors which support survivors of sex trafficking to be resilient after their experience of trafficking. This is a qualitative study using case study approach. Data was collected through in-depth interviews with female sex trafficking survivors. Thematic analysis method was implemented to analyze the data.Result reveals some risk factors which survivors encountered including personal factor, family poverty, family disintegration anddisfunction, negative peer influence and juvenile delinquency, unsupportive community, and public stigma. Resilient survivors could basically overcome those risks and were supported by some personal protective factors, such as belief system, self-efficacy, effective coping skill, and personal motivation. Protective support could also be socially sourced, such as from family, peers, and shelter.

A Scoping Review of Resilience in Survivors of Human Trafficking

“…These studies discussed domestic survivors. One study was conducted in the UK (Hynes, 2010), two in Indonesia (Borualogo, 2018; Herdiana et al, 2019), and one each in Cambodia (Gray et al, 2012), India (Rajan, 2013), Kenya (Ainomo, 2017), and Italy (Ginesini, 2018). With the exception of Ginesini’s (2018) study of survivors who had been trafficked into Italy from other countries, all studies reviewed featured survivors who were in their country of origin.…”

“…Eight studies had survivor participants over 18 years of age ( N = 8; Ainomo, 2017; Cecchet & Thoburn, 2014; Chilaka, 2019; Ginesini, 2018; Herdiana et al, 2019; Hickle, 2017; Komentiani & Farmer, 2020; O’Brien, 2018). Two studies had survivors under 18 years as participants (Holt, 2015; Williams, 2010), and five had participants under and above 18 years old (Borualogo, 2018; Countryman-Roswurm, 2012; Egger, 2017; Gray et al, 2012; Rajan, 2013).…”

“…Eleven studies were applied qualitative research designs (Ainomo, 2017; Carter, 2012; Cecchet & Thoburn, 2014; Chilaka, 2019; Herdiana et al, 2019; Hickle, 2017; Hynes, 2010; Komentiani & Farmer, 2020; O’Brien, 2018; Rajan, 2013; Williams, 2010), two were quantitative (Ginesini, 2018; Gray et al, 2012), and four employed mixed methods (Borualogo, 2018; Countryman-Roswurm, 2012; Egger, 2017; Holt, 2015). All studies were cross-sectional, examining participants’ resilience at the point-in-time of the study.…”

“…While most of the studies cited more than one definition of resilience, the view of resilience as emerging from the survivor’s responses to risk and protective factors in her physical and social ecology tended to be prominent (e.g., Borualogo, 2018; Cecchet & Thoburn, 2014; Ginesini, 2018; Gray et al, 2012; Herdiana et al, 2019). For instance, while Hickle (2017) discussed resilience as both a trait, characteristic, or skill and as the result of “a combination of personal, social, and physical resources that emerge as a person interacts with his or her environment” (de Terte et al, 2009, as cited in Hickle, 2017), her findings primarily described resilience in trafficked women as being the result of their investing in resources that become available to them through exiting their trafficking situations.…”

“…e., more mastery was related to less anxiety and depression); older age; prior traumaHerdiana et al (2019) Have a belief system (i.e., being grateful; God will forgive sins); greater self-efficacy; more effective coping skills (i.e., seeking help/support from professionals or friends); strong personal motivation for positive change (i.e., seeking independence); social support (i.e., support from family, peers, and shelter houses)Hickle (2017) Gain/build positive social connections (i.e., other survivor presence, children, and spiritual beliefs); ability to invest in resources (i.e., people, for example, case managers, friends, peers, counselors; system, for example, the criminal justice system, police); safe, appropriately resourced and supportive environments; personal growth (i.e., a fear of the results of not exiting the sex trade industry empowered them to exit)Holt (2015) Positive attachments; a sense of purpose; positive self-concepts; greater self-identity, purpose, hope, religious beliefs; actively seeking of change; age (i.e., older participants had higher scores for hope)…”