Ecumenical Conference on Human Trafficking
Multiple Perspectives to Addressing this Complex Issue
Sponsored by National
Council of Churches – Justice for Women Working Group & United Methodist
Women’s Division United Methodist Seminar Program on National and
International Affairs
Open Space Report Title:
Language and imagery
Convener:
Susie Johnson
List of participants:
Darrell Omanson
Nancy
Megan
Geraldine Kennedy
Discussion and recommendations:
- Need to work with young adults/youth to help them understand think about language: through youth groups, school system, and women’s wellness centers at universities
- Need to make connections with secular organizations to find, reach, educate non-church related youth and young adults
- Women in domestic violence prefer to be called victim until they are safe from their abuser—then transition to survivor: application to trafficking
- If we use term survivor will the public have an interest?
- How would term commercial paid rape instead of prostitution, or prostituted woman change conversation?
- Nancy Ramos with the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women has done work on this issue.
- Maybe need to use images instead of language
- Term slavery may offer greater opportunities to convey issue than words:
- Use images on billboard campaigns or use of “tourist” oriented publications or general interest magazines in US. Use images to bring issue out into larger public view
- Focus on rights approach changes power dynamic
- Need to convey continuum of harm-women moving toward safety- Capture steps toward survivorhood rather than engaging church women in using words of pity.
- Women oriented language not persuasive to men
- Language can desensitize