Our Words Matter
By Tanya Pearrell
I am a firm believer that words carry weight. They have meaning and lasting impact. They matter. And they definitely matter in the conversation surrounding trafficking and exploitation.
“Underage woman”. “Child prostitute”. Let’s be clear - there are no “underage women”, there are children. And there is no such thing as a “child prostitute”. They are a victim and survivor of sexual exploitation.
It might seem trivial to debate words but words can shape public perspective. And perspective determines action. At She’s Somebody’s Daughter we want to use terms that empower and restore, not strip individuals of their dignity or cause trauma. Using the term “prostituted individual”, rather than “prostitute” can have a profound effect. It focuses on the circumstances someone endured, rather than giving an identity that isn’t deserved.
And it goes beyond the survivor. I was recently convicted while listening to a podcast where a former police officer was talking about an individual who had sexually abused children. And how the term “pedophile” was used to define this person. While this is an accurate description of what had happened, this man was being assigned an identity. lt made me think about how I use the terms “pimp” or “trafficker”. While these are not incorrect statements, I am assigning this identity to these individuals, assuming they cannot change. A more accurate way of discussing this would be to say “the individual doing the trafficking” or “the individual buying”.
Please understand - this is not a condoning of behavior. Not at all. What has been done is awful and there are/should be consequences for this behavior. But in the same way that I do not want to assign an identity to someone who has been victimized, I also don’t want to do this to someone perpetrating. Because I want to believe that everyone is able to change their behavior, to be redeemed.
This can also be applied to the terms “sex work” and “adult entertainment”. Society wants us to believe that these things are legitimate and safe. Statistics show that 95% of those prostituted are physically assaulted. 60% suffer from PTSD at the same level as those who have faced combat. While we do not want to tell anyone what to do with their body, we do want to share the reality and provide other options.
Can we agree that words hold power? They have the power to edify or to destroy. Let’s choose words that build up, restore, empower, and affirm beauty and dignity.
Want to learn more about the work of She’s Somebody’s Daughter, trafficking and exploitation, and how you can be a part of erasing the lines of separation that isolate women affected? Schedule a presentation by completing our request form - click here or email tanya@shessomebodysdaughter.org.
