Under their "control": Perceptions of Traffickers' Power and Coercion Among International Female Trafficking Survivors During Exploitation

Despite an increase in knowledge about human trafficking, little is understood about interpersonal power dynamics between traffickers and their victims; particularly in relation to coercion. Understanding victims' perceptions of power is critical to developing trauma informed, targeted services...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Victims & offenders 2019-02, Vol.14 (2), p.199-221
Main Author: Preble, Kathleen M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
After care
Coercion
Entrapment
Environmental aspects
Exploitation
Human trafficking
interpersonal social power
Kidnapping
Law enforcement
maintenance
Perceptions
Power
Power structure
Prevention programs
Slavery
Social dynamics
Social power
Social services
Survivor
Trafficking
Trauma
Victims
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Summary:Despite an increase in knowledge about human trafficking, little is understood about interpersonal power dynamics between traffickers and their victims; particularly in relation to coercion. Understanding victims' perceptions of power is critical to developing trauma informed, targeted services for prevention, intervention, and aftercare services for survivors. This paper explores human trafficking victims' (n = 31; adult, female, international) perceptions of traffickers' interpersonal social power as influenced by prior entrapment factors and traffickers' characteristics during the controlling period of the exploitation, the "maintenance phase". Findings from this study reveal that entrapment factors and shared characteristics between victims and traffickers influenced perceptions of specific kinds of power. Moreover, findings suggest that more investigation is need to explore how much influence dynamics outside of the trafficking relationship (i.e., social and environmental factors) have on victims' perceptions of traffickers' power. Further, results suggest a need for anti-trafficking professionals to be particularly cognizant that victims may perceive individuals in positions of power such as social service providers and law enforcement, as similar to their traffickers.
ISSN:1556-4886
1556-4991
DOI:10.1080/15564886.2019.1567637