Devastating consequences of sex trafficking on women’s health

Abstract

Sex trafficking has devastating consequences on the physical and mental well-being of millions of women around the world. These trafficking victims often come in contact with medical personnel, and these encounters with suitably prepared staff can be a step toward healing of the victims. The Catholic Church, especially through Pope Francis, is making strenuous efforts to curb the spread of sex trafficking. Same-sex feelings and behavior may arise post-trafficking in individuals, although this does not appear to be mentioned thus far in the literature. Here, we are most likely dealing with a type of “pseudo-lesbianism” post-trauma. The trafficking survivor can be helped to understand some of the likely roots of her feelings such as anti-male sentiments following abuse. She needs to be patiently, and expertly, accompanied to process the trauma she has experienced, and learn how to meet her genuine needs for female affection and affirmation in healthy, chaste, and non-erotic ways.

Summary: Around the world, millions of female victims of human trafficking are forced into sex “work,” often resulting in serious physical and mental-health problems. Healthcare staff should be alert to spot victims of sex trafficking and be ready to assist them. The Catholic Church, especially through Pope Francis, has been vocal in denouncing this form of modern slavery. Some female victims of sex trafficking may experience same-sex feelings afterward. Healing for such young women involves helping them to process their traumatic experiences, as well as patiently accompanying them as they seek to develop healthy, chaste friendships with other females and males.

Keywords:

• Women’s health
• Human trafficking
• Sex trafficking
• Health consequences
• Same-sex attraction

Notes

1. Some pertinent details such as the name of the congregation will be omitted. The world of sex trafficking is fraught with dangers for the victims and for those who attempt to assist them. The location of the shelter is kept hidden as sex traffickers seek out the girls to re-coerce them back into the life of sex work, or threaten and attempt to intimidate them from testifying in future court cases against trafficking rings.

2. Health considerations can extend to an appraisal of the victim’s medical condition pre- and post-trafficking as well as during the actual experience of being trafficked. For example, trafficking victims may come from a context of impoverishment and may have some degree of malnutrition before being trafficked.

3. The authors are looking at child victims of prostitution.

4. The Christian Medical and Dental Associations (n.d.) have produced some very helpful and informative modules of continuing medical education on human trafficking including those on the physical and mental-health consequences of human trafficking in general (not specifically on sex trafficking although these are implicitly included).

5. In his lecture “The Holy See and the Fight Against Human Trafficking,” at Fordham University, Archbishop Bernardito Auza provides a detailed and insightful list of the various endeavors of Pope Francis to combat sex trafficking (Auza 2017).

6. If evidence of injuries needs to be documented, it should be born in mind that the taking of photos should be explained to minimize risk of provoking traumatic memories of any previous forced pornography experience.

7. This suggestion can also apply to priests and religious. Each year, my community, the Verbum Dei missionaries, offers a one-day module on prostitution and sex trafficking to novices (mostly young religious men and women at the beginning of their vocation). The group of novices numbers around 70, from 20 or so different congregations and various, mainly Asian, nationalities. It is usually a very enriching exchange, especially seeing how each charism can contribute in a specific way to combat these challenging realities.

8. Many countries have laws and provisions to limit the extent of sex trafficking. However, these laws not always implemented. Where the government does not do its part, the Church cannot sit idly by and do nothing. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI reminded us of this: “As I have had occasion to say, it is not the proper task of the Church to engage in the political work of bringing about the most just society possible; nonetheless she cannot and must not remain on the sidelines in the struggle for justice” (Benedict 2007).

9. Advocacy and outreach programs are undertaken in bars and on the streets to inform the young women about the drop in center and the services offered there including medical assistance.

10. For a deeper understanding of same-sex attraction according to Catholic Church teaching, various documents can be consulted. Suggested reading includes Homosexuality and Hope by the Catholic Medical Association (2000); Same sex attraction: Catholic teaching and pastoral practice by Rev. Fr. John F. Harvey (2007); “Chastity and homosexuality: Combating the scourge of HIV and AIDS” (McTavish, 2014a); as well as “Spiritual accompaniment of persons with same-sex attraction” (McTavish, 2015) in the Linacre Quarterly special issue on same-sex attraction (Winter 2015).

11. There is literature readily available on sex trafficking of LGBT individuals (see “Sex Trafficking of LGBT Individuals” by Martinez and Kelle 2003, for example).

12. There are some cases of these girls also engaging in inappropriate behavior with other young males. This is understandable, although not advisable, as the girls’ concepts of healthy boundaries has been damaged by the experience of sex trafficking making it difficult for them to engage in healthy, non-sexual relationships with others.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Fr. James McTavish

Fr. James McTavish, FMVD, M.D., is currently the Branch Responsible (Provincial) of the Verbum Dei male missionaries in the Philippines. He may be contacted at [email protected].