Factors Influencing Sex Trafficking and Survival Sex for Aboriginal Canadian Women and Girls: An Exploration Study

Background and Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore factors that make Aboriginal women and girls vulnerable to sex trafficking through evaluating the available literature. This study also discusses the role of consent within the lives of Aboriginal women and girls involved in the survival sex trade, and examines the potential for blurred distinctions between survival sex and trafficking for many Aboriginal Canadian females, especially with the Criminal Code definition of trafficking.  This study seeks to clarify the relationship between survival sex and sex trafficking in order to help inform future social work research and practice.   

Method: The systematic literature review method was used. Forty-nine peer-reviewed articles (1990 -2014) were initially chosen from online journals.  The following keywords were used to guide the search: Indigenous, Aboriginal, Metis, First Nations, Native, sex trafficking, survival sex, sexual trafficking, Canada, and North America. Articles were filtered out if they did not discuss prostitution, survival sex, trafficking, or sex work. A total of 15 articles published between 2002 and 2011 remained.

Keyword searches were frequently updated.  In order to be included, a study needed to either focus on Aboriginal Canadian females or include Aboriginal Canadian participants.  The final 15 articles chosen for review contained one or more elements of the following: prostitution of Aboriginal youth, Aboriginal heritage as a risk factor for becoming involved in prostitution, studies with large numbers of Aboriginal participants, or studies that included culturally appropriate preventative measures and healing techniques. 

Articles were examined using a feminist perspective, with emphasis on the importance of bringing personal experiences of exploited Aboriginal Canadian women and girls into the political realm in order to empower Aboriginal women and girls and challenge societal attitudes. 

Results: Articles discussed the effects of colonization contributing to the overrepresentation of Aboriginal females within the Canadian sex trade, including survival sex and trafficking.  Articles that discussed survival sex often described situations that fit the Criminal Code definition of trafficking.  Several studies indicated that Aboriginal women and girls wished to exit the sex trade but were unable to due to a number of exploitative factors.  The results also described frequent experiences of violence, addictions, and health issues experienced by Aboriginal women and girls involved in the sex trade.  Most studies recommended prevention and reintegration services, emphasizing culturally appropriate prevention programs. 

Conclusions and Implications: Future trafficking research needs greater input from perspectives of Aboriginal women and girls, which the current literature lacks.  In order to develop holistic services, more research needs to be conducted that provides space for Aboriginal women and girls to voice their experiences and needs.  Future studies focusing on sexually exploited Aboriginal females that recognize how experiences of prostitution, particularly survival sex, have the potential to constitute trafficking would help reduce victim blaming and work towards implementing holistic prevention and reintegration strategies. Greater awareness of trafficking, consent, and exploitation are necessary to provide better prevention, intervention and aftercare services.