Vicarious Traumatization and Burnout among Service Providers for Victims of Commercial Sexual Exploitation

Barriers faced by Black women when navigating commercial sexual exploitation (CSE)-related services remain understudied. This qualitative study explores (a) Black women’s experiences of racism when accessing services in CSE-related organizations and (b) the existence and manifestation of racial tensions in practice. In-depth interviews were conducted with 30 adult women who traded sex as adults and 20 CSE-related service providers. Findings suggest that Black women perceive preferential treatment given to White women. Racial tensions between women accessing programs were identified, as well as a promising practice of intergroup dialogue groups addressing racism, privilege, and oppression. Implications are discussed.

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Addressing race, racism, and commercial sexual exploitation in practice through an action-based research partnership

Action Research ◽

10.1177/1476750318807545 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 17 (2) ◽

pp. 220-236 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lara B Gerassi ◽

Amanda Colegrove ◽

Deanna Kopriva McPherson

Keyword(s):

Sex Trafficking ◽

Service Providers ◽

Sexual Exploitation ◽

Research Process ◽

Service Organizations ◽

Commercial Sexual Exploitation ◽

Service Access ◽

Adult Women ◽

Social Service Organizations ◽

Methodological Rigor

This paper analyzes the participatory research process stemming from a five-year transformative relationship between anti-trafficking coalition members (including service providers from multiple social service organizations), the coalition organizer, and a service provider who became a sex trafficking/commercial sexual exploitation researcher. We describe the collaborative process in the study design (including development of research questions, methodological and analytic planning, interview guide development, member checking, dissemination of findings, and creation of action steps) for one study, which sought to understand barriers and facilitators to service access and engagement among adult women involved in commercial sex. We analyze how our relationships enhanced methodological rigor and overall feasibility of the study, while creating a pathway to change in the community. Finally, we reflect on the role of our own diverse racial identities in collaborating on this research study, as well the implications for action.

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Global problem, local solutions: Challenges to exiting commercial sexual exploitation and service provision

International Social Work ◽

10.1177/0020872817746227 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 62 (2) ◽

pp. 741-753 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Bincy Wilson

Keyword(s):

Best Practices ◽

Service Provision ◽

Service Providers ◽

Sexual Exploitation ◽

The United States ◽

Commercial Sexual Exploitation ◽

Local Solutions ◽

Using Data ◽

Different Cultures ◽

Insight Into

This article explores the challenges (barriers and needs) in exit from commercial sexual exploitation and its implications on service provision across different cultures, using data gathered from 55 service providers in India and the United States. The findings provide an insight into the societal nuances of the exit phenomenon, where the similarities reflect the ubiquitous nature of exploitation and the differences reflect the distinct cultural outlook within each society. The learning would initiate development/modification of interventions that are culturally sensitive and appropriate while sharing knowledge of best practices, thereby helping to make a real impact in the lives of those affected.

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Freedom, Commerce, Bodies, Harm: The Case of Backpage.com

Social Inclusion ◽

10.17645/si.v5i2.925 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. 3-15

Author(s):

Elizabeth Swanson

Keyword(s):

Service Providers ◽

Sexual Exploitation ◽

Third Parties ◽

Commercial Sexual Exploitation ◽

Internet Service ◽

Harm To Others ◽

The Law ◽

Gendered Bodies ◽

Legal Strategies ◽

Sexual Commerce

This article situates lawsuits against Backpage.com in the context of changing laws and norms of sexual commerce and trafficking, and of evolving legal interpretations of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. Section 230 has been used repeatedly to shield internet service providers such as Backpage.com from liability for content generated by third parties that has led to criminal harm to others; in this case, the trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of minors. Moving to a critique of the law as at times grievously detached from the realities it addresses, I compare the legal strategies and decisions in three prominent cases brought against Backpage.com in St. Louis, Tacoma, and Boston, respectively. This critique identifies the evacuation of gendered bodies and the harm done to them from the court opinions as an example of what Robert Cover has called the “interpretive violence” of the law, and of the judges who interpret and dispense it. I conclude by calling for courts and Congress to act together to disrupt the accumulation of interpretive precedent favoring freedom of commerce and speech over the protection of bodies from harm.

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