Let’s Talk Terminology

Language, please!

The social media world is abuzz with stories of human trafficking, and for some reason, that term seems to conjure up certain images. When we are addressing the sex trade and the illicit practice of human trafficking many terms get tossed around, and carefully chosen words can go a long way in effectively communicating to the public and helping the hearer to truly understand what we are explaining.

When we talk about “prostitution” it paints a specific picture in people’s minds. Most of the time (unfortunately) they envision a hooker on a street corner - a naughty woman who is doing naughty things. 

Someone talking about “sex work” makes it sound like sex is equal to any other job, just a thing a person does to put food on the table or to achieve a goal. Like manual labor, or schoolwork, or housework. If a person has their element of choice removed and is forced into performing manual labor because they have been exploited in any way, we call that slavery. But sex work is the option that is made when there are no other options. The illusionary term of sex work only exists because the buyers & sellers have shaped the language at the expense of the person who has been stripped of their humanity and turned into a tool to complete a job. 

When we talk about “trafficking” people envision the movie Taken or girls in chains with tape over their mouths. But trafficking isn’t just about kidnapping or underground black markets, it happens in many different forms. 

By saying “sexual exploitation” the speaker paints the picture of a victim. And this is difficult to swallow for many reasons - the victim of sexual exploitation doesn’t always self-identify as a victim. And realizing there is a victim means, in reality, there is a predator or a victimizer. 

And when we say “commercial sexual exploitation” it means someone being sexually victimized for money. So this broad term covers prostitution, stripping, porn, trafficking, camming, etc. Any time a commercial sex act happens, the buyer is the one in the position of power and the person being purchased’s element of choice has been removed, either through threats and force or by using money (or anything of value) as a coercive element to break down the defensive mechanisms that would cause someone to resist unwanted sexual contact. In any other setting, when the money is taken out of the equation, a person being tricked or talked into haing sex is viewed as a victim of assault, and in some cases, rape. So, in talking about the commercial sex trade, exploitation is central to the narrative, and there is a victimizer and a victim. 

The “INDUSTRY OF COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION” is an umbrella term that encompasses trafficking, prostitution, camming, stripping, porn...anything that involves a person being made into a commodity and then used as a product by the purchaser. My preferred terminology in sharing about the sex trade is the industry of commercial sexual exploitation because it clearly communicates all the elements involved, and avoids confusion. Oftentimes we still need to refer to human trafficking, sex trafficking, and prostitution, because those phrases are written into legislation and have historically defined the movement, however, they are not always the most effective choices.

If we are going to help people understand what really happens when a person is purchased, we need to speak language they understand. 

Please let survivors help you to shape your terminology. Please use language that paints an accurate picture. Please tell the truth about sexual exploitation. 

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