Methods of Definition: What Is Sex Trafficking?

How do you define "sex trafficking"? We learn together to nourish community dialogue by asking gentle, respectful questions -- and listening.

Have you ever been asked how to define “sex trafficking”?

Trafficking organizations have intentionally created contention, confusion, and conflation around this question.

Many people don’t know how to use this phrase most helpfully in order to identify and relieve suffering in their communities.

Many people have experienced being unheard when raising awareness of dangers in the community, and many people — yes, it’s true — have been targeted with false accusations to manipulate social energy flows.

The result is terrible damage, chaos, and life-ending pain for not only trafficking survivors, but also for those who would otherwise respect and help trafficking survivors, invisibly destroying individual and collective well-being.