Health Care Providers (HCPs) are trained to recognize victims of elder abuse, child abuse and general domestic violence. When it comes to identifying victims of sex trafficking, however – an area where clues can be very subtle – there is a marked lack of practical education. A study by Barrows and Finger in 2008 demonstrated that only 13% of HCPs felt confident they could identify a trafficked victim, and only 3% of medical personnel had received any training on identifying victims.

From movies to music to clothing lines, the widespread promotion of the glorified “pimp and Ho” culture has unwittingly created an unacceptable tolerance and ignorance to the reality of the sex slave industry in the United States. Unfortunately, the misperceptions about prostitution are pervasive even among healthcare workers, who are missing valuable opportunities to recognize and offer aid to victims of sex trafficking.