Domestic Violence Vs Sex Trafficking Comparison Chart

Domestic Violence

 

Sex Trafficking

 

VICTIMS ARE DEPICTED AS VOICELESS, NAIVE, POOR, AND WEAK-WILLED.

SOCIETY PREFERS VICTIMS WHO ARE NOT CRIMINALS. NO ACTIVE ROLE OR KNOWLEDGE, OR INVOLVEMENT IN ILLEGAL ACTIVITY OR IMMORAL BEHAVIOR -> DRUGS, ALCOHOL, DRESSES IMMODESTLY, TATTOOS, ABORTION ETC.

SOCIETY PREFERS VICTIMS WHO ARE PASSIVE, WHITE, & STRAIGHT CIS WOMEN (“INNOCENCE” & WHO DON’T FIGHT BACK)

 
  • LARGELY IN THE WORKPLACE (IN ILLICIT/ILLEGAL BUSINESSES)

  • EMPHASIS ON AND DEMONIZATION OF OUTSIDERS, MIXED RACE, OR MIXED CLASS RELATIONS, OR FOREIGNERS

  • ATTENTION IS DIVERTED FROM THE VICTIM’S FAMILY, HOME LIFE, OR RELATIONSHIP TO THE ABUSER. IF A FAMILY IS MENTIONED, THEY ARE OFTEN AN INNOCENT BYSTANDER WHO HAD NO IDEA OF THE TRAFFICKING (DOMESTIC ABUSE/ILLEGAL ACTIVITY) TAKING PLACE. IF THE VICTIM WORKED A LEGAL MAINSTREAM JOB ON THE SIDE, THIS IS OFTEN DE-EMPHASIZED. VICTIMS BEING ARRESTED FOR FINANCIAL CRIMES IS EMPHASIZED AND CELEBRATED AS SAVING THE VICTIM. THE CONSEQUENCES THIS HAS FOR CHILDREN IS DE-EMPHASIZED.

  • EMPHASIS ON ABUSERS CALLING POLICE AND IMMIGRATION ON VICTIMS TO STRIKE FEAR.

  • CHILDREN BEING TAKEN AWAY FROM SEX WORKERS AND SEX TRAFFICKING VICTIMS IS JUSTIFIED. THERE ISN’T MUCH PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS HAPPENS AND THAT IT'S BIG BUSINESS TO STEAL AND SELL CHILDREN IN INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION BY TAKING FROM THOSE IN THE SEX TRADE. VICTIMS HAVE TO *EARN* THEIR CHILDREN BACK FROM THE SYSTEM. FOR SOME THEIR CHILDREN ARE SOLD OFF OR ABUSED IN THE ADOPTION/FOSTER CARE SYSTEM.

  • LARGELY IN THE HOME

  • ECONOMIC ABUSE AND LABOR IS DE-EMPHASIZED OR ERASED.

  • MORE LIKELY TO BE DEPICTED AS A MEMBER OF THE SAME RACE, AND OF SIMILAR CLASS ABUSING THE OTHER

  • ATTENTION IS DIVERTED FROM THE FINANCIAL CONTROL THAT ABUSERS OFTEN HOLD OVER THEIR VICTIMS. THIS WOULD IMPLICATE OUR ENTIRE SOCIETY, OUR BANKS, AND OUR LEGAL WORKPLACES. VICTIMS DOING CRIMES TO APPEASE THEIR ABUSERS (SELLING, BUYING, OR DOING DRUGS, MONEY LAUNDERING, ETC) ARE DE-EMPHASIZED. VICTIMS BEING ARRESTED FOR FINANCIAL CRIMES (OR HAVING THEIR CHILDREN TAKEN AWAY) WHEN THEIR PARTNER CONTROLLED THEIR FINANCES, AND HOUSING ARE VIEWED NEGATIVELY BY SOCIETY.

  • EMPHASIS ON ABUSERS CALLING WELFARE AUTHORITIES ON VICTIMS (TO GET CHILDREN TAKEN AWAY, OR AS A THREAT TO GAIN COMPLIANCE)

  • CHILDREN BEING TAKEN AWAY FROM DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS IS ALSO JUSTIFIED BY THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM, WELFARE AUTHORITIES, AND IMMIGRATION. BUT THERE IS MORE OF A PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS DOESN’T MAKE SENSE, AND KEEPS VICTIMS TRAPPED, REFUSING HELP FOR FEAR OF LOSING THEIR CHILDREN. VICTIMS OFTEN HAVE TO EARN THEIR CHILDREN BACK, OR COULD LOSE THEM TO THE ABUSER/SYSTEM.

IMAGE FROM Domestic Abuse Intervention Project’s Duluth Model

DESPITE ECONOMIC ABUSE, THERE IS NO MENTION OF THE OCCUPATION OR WORKPLACE OF THE VICTIM. HOMELESSNESS, BEGGING, AND PEDDLING DOESN’T APPEAR ON THIS WHEEL.

IMAGE FROM The National Human Trafficking Hotline (RUN BY POLARIS)

NOTICE THAT FOR SEX & LABOR TRAFFICKING “USING CHILDREN” HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH SEXUAL AND PHYSICAL ABUSE.

 
  • EMPHASIS ON *ECONOMIC ABUSE*, COERCION & THREATS, SEXUAL ABUSE, & PHYSICAL ABUSE.

  • ALCOHOL AND DRUGS ARE EMPHASIZED FOR THE ABUSE VICTIM. THEY ARE FORCED UPON THE VICTIM.

  • FAMILY & CHILDREN ARE DE-EMPHASIZED OR ERASED IN SEX TRAFFICKING NARRATIVES.

  • SOME VICTIMS GET TATTOOS WITH THEIR ABUSIVE PARTNERS. THIS IS EMPHASIZED & CALLED “SLAVE BRANDING”, POLICE & SOCIETY ARE TAUGHT TO PROFILE PEOPLE WITH TATTOOS AS A SIGN OF “SLAVES” TO REPORT TO POLICE.

  • SEX WORKERS AND SEX TRAFFICKING VICTIMS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH ABORTIONS. THEIR PARTNERS (BOYFRIENDS, HUSBANDS) ARE ERASED, DEPERSONALIZED, AND DEHUMANIZED. SEX TRAFFICKING VICTIMS ARE FORCED TO GET ABORTIONS BY TRAFFICKERS. THEY ARE PASSIVE ALWAYS. THE IMPLICATION IS THAT IF YOU CHOOSE TO GET AN ABORTION, YOU ARE NOT A REAL VICTIM.

  • EMPHASIS ON PHYSICAL BEATINGS, EMOTIONAL ABUSE, AND THE CHILDREN IF THE VICTIM HAS ANY.

  • ALCOHOL AND DRUGS ABUSE BY THE VICTIM IS DE-EMPHASIZED OR ERASED. ALCOHOL AND DRUGS DONE BY THE ABUSER EMPHASIZED.

  • VICTIMS ARE OFTEN SEEN AS UNFIT MOTHERS BY THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM.

  • SOME VICTIMS GET TATTOOS WITH THEIR ABUSIVE PARTNERS (THIS IS DE-EMPHASIZED, IGNORED, OR ERASED). OFTEN TATTOO SERVICES THAT HELP DV VICTIMS EMPHASIZE COVERING UP ACTUAL SCARS FROM BEATINGS OR PERSONALIZING TATTOOS TO EMPOWER EACH VICTIM.

  • MOTHERS (WHO ALREADY HAVE CHILDREN) ARE OFTEN THE ONES WHO GET ABORTIONS. THIS IS DE-EMPHASIZED AND ERASED. INSTEAD, EMPHASIS IS PLACED ON WOMEN WHO WERE FORCED TO MISCARRIAGE OR GET AN ABORTION AGAINST THEIR WILL BY THEIR PARTNER. THEY ARE PASSIVE ALWAYS. THE IMPLICATION IS THAT IF YOU CHOOSE TO GET AN ABORTION, YOU ARE NOT A REAL VICTIM.