February

The entire month of January focused on counter-trafficking, raising significant issues about gender gaps, gender violence, child sexual abuse material, and labor trafficking. Why is there so much emphasis on sex trafficking when labor trafficking is far more prevalent?

The two types of trafficking may overlap. But that isn't why there is such focus on one over the other. Unfortunately, it has to do with the stigma attached to the word "sex" and the associations we make with this word. Labor trafficked persons equally suffer poor health, injuries, mental abuse, emotional abuse, and physical abuse. None of their experiences can be minimized or compared as less traumatic to sexually exploited or trafficked persons.

Society places an additional burden that stigmatizes the person and adds to the already existing complexities of trauma they have endured.

Clinical sexologists are specialists in human sexuality and study sexual behaviors, feelings, and interactions in addition to disorders and dysfunctions. Sexologists may contribute to studies or work with human trafficked victims/survivors. We need sexologists to add to the research, care, and practice to support the survivors' goals.

January may have come and gone, but for many of us, this work continues.