Interdisciplinary Conference on Human Trafficking at the University of Nebraska
Date of this Version
11-2009
Citation
Pierce, A. (November 2009). Shattered hearts (summary report): The commercial sexual exploitation of American Indian women and girls in Minnesota. Minneapolis: Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center.
Abstract
Table of Contents
Background 1
Definitions and terms 2
The context 5
Prevalence 8
Patterns in entering the sex trade 10
Age of entry 10
Modes of entry 11
Factors that facilitate entry 17
Generational trauma 17
Runaway, thrown away, and/or homeless 17
Repeated exposure to abuse, exploitation, and violence 20
Addiction 25
Failure to finish high school 27
Mental and emotional vulnerability 28
Barriers to exiting the sex trade 29
Limited access to emergency and supportive housing 29
Absence of other options for self-sufficiency 30
Distrust of law enforcement 29
Child protection policies 30
Limited resources for support and healing 31
Dependency, denial, and distrust of advocates 32
Absence of a common, evidence-based approach 33
Conclusions 34
The social ecology of Native girls’ vulnerability to sex trade recruitment 34
Influence of the majority society 35
Influence of neighborhood and community environments 38
Influence of families and friends 39
The cumulative effect on Native girls 40
LAST WORDS 42
Next steps 42
Recommendations for action 42
Project limitations and future research 46
Comments
Copyright (c) 2009 Alexandra Pierce