The Not so Perfect Victim: The Experiences of Young Black and Latina Sex Trafficking Resisters

• In Event: Perspectives on Human Trafficking Victimization

Abstract

This paper examines the systemic issues surrounding the treatment of marginalized youth who are impacted by domestic minor sex trafficking. It explores how historical and contemporary narratives shape perceptions of victimhood and the ways in which societal and institutional responses contribute to the criminalization of certain survivors. By using intersectional and critical frameworks, this paper aims to analyze factors such as race, gender, socioeconomic status, and other characteristics that influence experiences and policies set within the criminal legal system and support services. Additionally, I seek to interrogate how carceral responses to trafficking often contribute to the further criminalization and marginalization of survivors, particularly Black and Latina girls. By highlighting the need for transformative justice models that move beyond punitive frameworks, I offer a critical lens to viewing support services and bridge critical gaps in existing anti-trafficking efforts. Ultimately, calling for a reimagining of survivor support that is rooted in justice, empowerment, and the dismantling of oppressive systems that contribute to trafficking, exploitation, and the continual victimization of survivors.

Author

• Jonelsy Gonzalez, Old Dominion University