DIGEST - Volume 9, Issue 4- FULL DIGEST

22 TPC Digest She’s Just a Prostitute The Effects of Labels on Counselor Attitudes, Empathy, and Rape Myth Acceptance Stacey Diane Aranez Litam H uman trafficking has been defined as the recruiting, harboring, transporting, supplying, or obtaining of a person for labor or services through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of involuntary servitude or slavery. Sex trafficking is a specific type of human trafficking characterized by scenarios in which commercial sex acts are induced by force, fraud, or coercion, and/or in which the person induced to perform sex acts is under 18 years of age. It is essential that counselors recognize the barriers that may exist when working with human sex trafficking survivors. Counselors who adhere to rape myths, or who engage in behaviors that reduce the amount of empathy afforded to clients, may cause client re-traumatization, intensified feelings of client shame, and increased rates of early termination. The present study sought to examine whether counselors’ attitudes differed based on labels (i.e., “prostitute” and “prostitution” vs. “sex trafficked women” and “sex trafficking”). The present study also examined whether attitudes based on labels and counselor demographics predicted scores of empathy on the Empathy Assessment Index and scores of rape myth acceptance on the Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance - Short Form. A total of 396 counselors in Ohio participated in this study. The results of a t-test indicated participants who received “trafficking” labels were significantly more likely to perceive trafficked women as victims and sex trafficking as a form of victimization compared to participants who received “prostitute” labels. The results of several regression analyses indicated the combination of attitudes and counselor demographics predicted scores of empathy and rape myth acceptance. Within both groups, male counselors were more likely to accept rape myths compared to female counselors. Based on the results from this study, exposure to “prostitute” and “sex trafficking” labels influenced a significant difference between attitudes in counselors. Lack of training on sex trafficking also was linked to higher acceptance of rape myths. The present study illuminates the importance for counselors to recognize that language matters; using “sex trafficked survivor” instead of “prostitute” in client conceptualization and within the therapeutic setting influences attitudes and several independent constructs of empathy and the presence of rape myth acceptance. Counselors, counseling supervisors, and counseling students may benefit from receiving training on topics related to human trafficking and sex trafficking. Within this study, counselors who had not received training on prostitution/sex trafficking were more likely to believe prostitutes/ trafficked women were morally corrupt, were ugly, spread AIDS, and harmed the institution of marriage. Counselors with no previous training on prostitution/sex trafficking also were more likely to accept rape myths and were less likely to successfully engage in the empathy construct of perspective taking. Based on the results of this study, male counselors were less likely to have received previous training compared to females. Counselors must reflect on whether they hold stigmatizing beliefs about individuals who have engaged in commercial sex work or who have survived forced sexual exploitation. Additionally, counselors working with sex trafficking survivors may avoid using the “prostitute” label as this was linked to greater rates of rape myth acceptance and decreased rates of empathy. Future research areas may identify prevalent human trafficking myths and develop human trafficking competencies. Data collected in this study was part of a dissertation study. The dissertation was awarded the 2019 Dissertation Excellence Award by the National Board for Certified Counselors. Stacey Diane Aranez Litam is an assistant professor at Cleveland State University. Correspondence can be addressed to Stacey Litam, 2121 Euclid Avenue, Julka Hall 272, Cleveland, Ohio 44115, s.litam@csuohio.edu. |