Beyond the Binary: Exploring the Anti-Trafficking Ideology Spectrum and its Impact on Care Work

• In Event: Innovations in Human Trafficking Research—Part 3: Community Partnerships addressing CSE and Substance Use

Abstract

The 1982 Barnard conference on sexuality served as the moment that emphasized the feminist sex wars, including the heated debates about ideological divides within feminism on sexual autonomy, power, agency, and exploitation. These discussions set theoretical groundwork for how scholars think about gender issues in the context of commercial sex and sex trafficking. This paper examines the language and framing discrepancies within trafficking and commercial sex research, conducting a thematic analysis of key scholarly debates and a year of ethnographic field notes. By exploring how these differences manifest in academic discourse, the study investigates their impact on policy and practice, specifically highlighting the consequences for women at the intersection of substance use and commercial sexual exploitation. Through an in-depth analysis, the paper uncovers how divergent terminologies and conceptualizations of trafficking and sex work shape institutional responses, perpetuating a gap in care and support for marginalized women. This exploration emphasizes the critical need for a more nuanced and consistent approach in both research and intervention strategies to address the complex needs of this vulnerable population. By bridging the gap between scholarly discussions and real-world applications, the paper calls for 1. policy reforms that better integrate care and services for women experiencing both substance use and exploitation and 2. More academic collaboration with community partners.

Authors

• Jada Y. Vaughan, Northeastern University

• Katherine P. Hazen, Northeastern University

• Sandra Andrade, Boston Human Exploitation Advocacy Team (HEAT)

• Abigail M. Judge, Boston Human Exploitation Advocacy Team (HEAT), Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School