Public “Buy-In” and Anti-Trafficking Policy Mobilization for Male Trafficking Victims

• In Event: Research on Vulnerable and Underserved Human Trafficking Survivors from the USF Trafficking in Persons Lab

Abstract

The American public consistently receives messages from advocates and political elites about social problems with the intent of fostering public support for initiatives to solve them. The ability to engage and mobilize individuals across various communities is an essential and challenging task, often influencing the impact of social policy and government responsiveness. For sex trafficking, traditional messaging and information shared about trafficking and victimization has centered around young female victims who are exploited for commercial sex. Despite the need for increased attention to all forms of exploitation, male victims are generally excluded from such messaging. What is currently unknown is how the public would be mobilized into anti-trafficking efforts when presented with information regarding non-traditional victims such as men and boys. Due to this gap, it is important to understand how public support and actions are determined based on the demographics of the victims involved. This analysis explores the relationship between the gender of sex trafficking victims and the consequent impact on the public’s willingness to engage in anti-trafficking initiatives. The implications of this research build upon existing public policy and trafficking scholarship, offering new insights for policymakers, activists, and advocates seeking to mobilize communities to respond to anti-trafficking efforts.

Author

• Sarah Lockwood, University of South Florida