Open AccessExperiences of Female Sex Trafficking Survivors: A Phenomenological Analysis
Author(s) -
Tetiana Sukach,
Natali Gonzalez Castaneda,
Jaclyn D. Cravens
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
the qualitative report
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.335
H-Index - 35
ISSN - 2160-3715
DOI - 10.46743/2160-3715/2018.3242
Subject(s) - sex trafficking , interpretative phenomenological analysis , human trafficking , phenomenology (philosophy) , psychology , lived experience , qualitative research , criminology , psychotherapist , sociology , social science , philosophy , epistemology
Human sex trafficking is a worldwide issue that affects millions of people. Victims of this industry undergo numerous traumatic events, which greatly impact their lives. Given the prevalence and traumatic nature of the sex trafficking industry, there is a need to raise greater awareness of victims’ experiences. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of 15 female survivors of sex trafficking, who shared their stories on equalitynow.org. Using phenomenology, the researchers answered the following questions: “What are the experiences of female survivors of sexual human trafficking within the industry?” and “How do survivors make sense of those experiences?” The analysis resulted in 6 themes and 10 subthemes that describe the lived experiences of female survivors of sex trafficking. Clinical implications and future research recommendations are discussed.