Women Trafficking Women and Children: an Exploratory Study of Women Sex Traffickers
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WOMEN TRAFFICKING WOMEN AND CHILDREN: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OF WOMEN SEX TRAFFICKERS by Dawn Marie Zywiec B.S.N., Northwestern University, 1986 M.A., Lincoln Christian Seminary, 1999 A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy in Education degree with a concentration in Health Education Department of Health and Recreation in the Graduate School Southern Illinois University Carbondale i AN ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION OF DAWN M. ZYWIEC, for the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Health Education, presented on March 26, 2012 at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. TITLE: WOMEN TRAFFICKING WOMEN AND CHILDREN: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OF WOMEN SEX TRAFFICKERS MAJOR PROFESSOR: Dr. Roberta Ogletree Introduction: There is little published literature on female sex traffickers in the United States. The purpose of this research was to explore the lived experiences of women sex traffickers. Method: This qualitative study primarily drew on in-depth, interpretive feminist methodology. Seven women offenders were interviewed twice for 90 minutes, from three different prisons. Six of the women were sex offenders. Narratives were analyzed and themes constructed. Through ongoing dialogue, the researcher was able to find meaning in, and to describe the women’s experiences. Although each woman’s experience was unique, there were commonalities in their narratives. Findings: Four themes emerged from the data analysis: pathways to prison, prison culture and experience, views towards victims, and giving back. The co-offender typology was the primary theme that emerged from the analysis of the transcripts. Fearing abandonment, most of the participants felt pressured by male partners to traffic children and commit other sexual offenses, often against their own children. Conclusion: Grounded in participants’ experiences, this study contributes to defining sex trafficking in a broader network and structure of oppression. The in-depth, descriptive findings of this research will hopefully expand anti-sex trafficking campaign prevention, and awareness knowledge. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iii TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................... i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................... ii LIST OF TABLES ....................................................................................................... vii LIST OF FIGURES .................................................................................................... viii CHAPTER 1 –INTRODUCTION Preface................................................................................................................. 1 Vignette ............................................................................................................... 2 Background of the Problem ................................................................................ 3 Feminist Debates Regarding Trafficking ............................................................ 8 Spearheading Feminist Researchers ................................................................. 11 Need for the Study ............................................................................................ 13 Purpose of the Study ......................................................................................... 16 Significance to Health Education ...................................................................... 19 Research Design................................................................................................ 20 Theoretical Lens................................................................................................ 21 Participants ........................................................................................................ 22 Assumptions ...................................................................................................... 24 Limitations ........................................................................................................ 24 Delimitations ..................................................................................................... 25 Terms and Definitions....................................................................................... 25 Summary ........................................................................................................... 32 iv CHAPTER 2—LITERATURE REVIEW Overview ........................................................................................................... 33 Risk Factors for Domestic Sex Trafficking Victims......................................... 41 Domestic Sex Traffickers ................................................................................. 47 Trauma Bonds ................................................................................................... 55 Feminist Frameworks: Pathways to Crime ....................................................... 59 Demand in Sex Trafficking ............................................................................... 62 Services for Survivors ....................................................................................... 66 Outreach and Education .................................................................................... 66 Prevention ......................................................................................................... 70 Gaps in Research............................................................................................... 71 Summary ........................................................................................................... 74 CHAPTER 3 – METHODS Purpose of Study ............................................................................................... 75 Research Questions ........................................................................................... 75 Research Design................................................................................................ 75 Methods............................................................................................................. 77 Constructing Questions ..................................................................................... 81 The Art of Listening.......................................................................................... 84 Research Measures............................................................................................ 85 Participants ........................................................................................................ 88 Theoretical Lens: Feminist Methodology ......................................................... 90 Researcher’s Reflexivity with Inmates ............................................................. 91 v Researcher’s Relationship with Topic .............................................................. 93 Feminist Ethics.................................................................................................. 95 Data Collection ................................................................................................. 99 Data Analysis .................................................................................................. 100 Methodological Rigor ..................................................................................... 104 Summary ......................................................................................................... 108 CHAPTER 4- FINDINGS Demographics ................................................................................................. 108 Profiles of Participants .................................................................................... 110 Themes ............................................................................................................ 120 Pathways to Prison .......................................................................................... 121 Prison Culture and Experience........................................................................ 130 View of Women and Children Trafficked ...................................................... 139 Giving Back .................................................................................................... 144 Reflecting on Nora’s Pleas .............................................................................. 154 Summary ......................................................................................................... 156 CHAPTER 5- CONCLUSIONS, DISCUSSION, AND RECOMMENDATIONS Summary ......................................................................................................... 158 Conclusions ..................................................................................................... 158 Discussion ....................................................................................................... 165 Recommendation ............................................................................................ 169 Overall Summary of Research ........................................................................ 177 REFERENCES .......................................................................................................... 179 vi APPENDICIES Appendix A Internal Review Board Approval .............................................. 217 Appendix B Consent to Take Part in Research ............................................... 218 Appendix