Awareness: What Do UTSA Student-Athletes Know About Human Trafficking?

24 November 2021

Abby Kassal

As a young, diverse group, many of whom are navigating independence for the first time, college students are members of a population vulnerable to human trafficking. Although almost everyone can tell you that human trafficking is innately bad, the specifics of human trafficking are commonly misunderstood. In an effort to gauge the level of understanding of human trafficking around UTSA’s campus, I decided to focus on a smaller population within the university: UTSA student-athletes.

Student-athletes are in a unique position concerning available resources; they are offered specialized educations and training on various topics, which can be advantageous to learning about personal and societal awareness. However, within this arena, discussion of human trafficking is absent.

I interviewed 11 student-athletes from 5 different UTSA Athletics programs (soccer, men’s and women’s track and field, football, and baseball) to get some insight on what they knew. Of these, 6 interviewees were female student-athletes, while 5 were male student-athletes. 6 of the interviewees were freshmen, 2 interviewees were juniors, 1 interviewee was a sophomore, 1 interviewee was a senior, and 1 interviewee’s academic class was unknown. 7 of the interviewees were from Texas—2 from San Antonio, 1 from Schertz, 1 from Manvel, 1 from Houston, and 1 from Tomball; 1 interviewee was from Golden, Colorado; 1 interviewee was from Cheyenne, Wyoming; 1 interviewee was from Remetschwil, Switzerland; and 1 interviewee’s hometown was unknown.

Question 1: Background Education…Have you ever learned about human trafficking in any educational or other settings?

This first question helped lay a foundation of each subject’s background education on human trafficking. Based on the responses to this question, the follow-up questions specifically pertaining to human trafficking information were answered based on knowledge acquired outside of academic or educational settings. Those who did learn about human trafficking in an academic setting had learned only a small amount of information regarding the issue; and interestingly, all but one of these respondents who had formally learned about trafficking (albeit briefly), had done so in high school classes, not in university-level classes.

One respondent answered, “In high school, I took a class over current events and we did like group discussion about research and ways to prevent it.” Another had, “touched on the topic but…never gone like into depth about it.” Another shared a similar experience, noting that they “kind of did in like religion class in high school but like not really in-depth.” And finally, one respondent answered, “Not in my college courses. I have talked about human trafficking in some of my high school courses, about like kind of what it is, issues that are going on, and the severity of the issue.” One respondent had learned about human trafficking at a prior university, having been cursorily educated on it in “one section of a public health course…but only one chapter.”

3 respondents described learning about human trafficking in various settings outside of academics. One noted learning about it through social media, and another noted learning about it within her community, relating, “I’m from Houston, so I know there’s a lot of human trafficking in Houston, like a lot over by the mall area.” Another more vaguely stated, “In an outside setting I’ve definitely heard like a little about it…it’s not like really conclusive…I feel like I definitely need to learn more about it.”

3 respondents noted never having learned about human trafficking.

Question 2: Based on what you know, what is human trafficking?

Respondents tended to have similar answers to the question of what human trafficking is, with most of them explicitly communicating a lack of confidence in the accuracy of their response. A couple indicated general feelings of disgust for human trafficking, describing it as “gross,” “inhumane,” and “dangerous.” 3 respondents specifically noted the use of force by traffickers in their definitions, describing trafficking as “somebody [being] forced to do something against their will,” forced labor, and “forcing someone to have sex when they don’t want to.”

6 respondents specifically mentioned sex or the selling of humans as a part of human trafficking, describing it as “trading humans for sex,” “kidnapping then sexual assault and then trafficking,” “whenever girls are rounded up to be sex workers,” and “forcing someone to have sex when they don’t want to.” One respondent characterized trafficking as, “sex slaves to like labor, like children of all ages, and…just basically like selling people.”

The most common misconception was that human trafficking has to involve kidnapping; 4 respondents defined trafficking as kidnapping. One respondent replied, “Basically isn’t it like kidnapping? Pretty much…whenever people are like abducted and then like held against their own will somewhere… there’s a lot of them in Houston in like you know nail salons and stuff like that, too.” This response acknowledged location as a risk factor for trafficking, especially in higher profile areas, as well as salons as possible places for sexual or labor exploitation. However, it is important to note that trafficking is just as likely to occur in small towns, and it may not involve the movement or kidnapping of any individuals.

The most cohesive definition depicted human trafficking as, “…the system in which people take other humans and subjugate them to a number of different things…be it torture, rape, sexual abuse, or prostitution, depending either over-age or under-age. Most people don’t…have the rule of conduct because they’re doing human trafficking and it’s a pretty brutal thing, and it’s not like just isolated to a community. It’s pretty broad, and it’s definitely an issue that needs to be talked about a little bit more.” This definition accounted for a few very important classifications within the realm of trafficking: the acknowledgment of various crimes committed against victims, the distinction between minors and adults experiencing trafficking (and the potential for the victimization of both groups), and the vastness of trafficking outside of singular communities.

One respondent was unable to answer the question, so they were given a brief definition in order to allow them to answer the follow-up questions.

Question 3: Who do you think is victimized by human trafficking?

Most respondents answered this question based on age or gender distinctions. 4 respondents answered solely based on age, characterizing trafficking victims as “teenagers mostly,” “the younger population specifically,” “teenagers or children,” and “children.” 2 respondents answered solely based on gender, characterizing victims of trafficking as “females more than males” in one case, and “probably males” in another case.

3 respondents encompassed both age and gender in their replies, answering in similar manners. One stated, “I think everybody can be a victim, but probably mostly, or I would say the majority, is probably young girls or like young women or in general like young people below 18…so like minors.” Another said, “I want to say children or at least women. Women or children, one of the two.” Along the same lines, another depicted trafficking victims as, “mostly women…everyone can be for the most part, but I feel like a vast majority of them as far as I know with my lack of knowledge thereof is probably women and young children…that would probably be like the most like broad essence of it.”

The most common theme in responses to this question was the thought that trafficking must pertain to only a specific group of people, when in reality, trafficking victimization can happen to anyone, regardless of gender, age, or location. 6 of the respondents did allude to the fact that anyone can be a victim of human trafficking, with one respondent expressing, “I feel like anyone could be a possible victim of human trafficking, but there definitely could be targets that I just don’t know of…from what I know I mean I think anyone could be a victim…I wish I knew more.”

Source: Unsplash

Question 4: What makes someone more at-risk for trafficking victimization?

This question aimed to dive more in-depth into considering risk factors that may put individuals or specific populations more at-risk for trafficking victimization, providing an avenue for further thoughts on who is likely to be affected and victimized. 5 of the respondents described what makes someone at-risk as a matter of self-defense, with particular emphasis on being alone and female in a public area as a heightened risk factor. One noted, “I think it’s like something as simple as like walking alone at night in like an open parking lot, just like not being aware of your surroundings,” and another said, “Just like not cautious of your surroundings may be.” These answers continue to portray the idea that one must be kidnapped in order to be trafficked; however, most people become victims of trafficking through force, fraud, or coercion, something much more complex than the idea of kidnapping that many of us have garnered from movies, TV shows, and other media. Although it is important to have awareness of your surroundings, trafficking victims are much more likely to have other specific factors of vulnerability exploited by traffickers through various rouses and luring tactics.

One respondent stated, “Probably if you grow up in an unstable home and by yourself; you’re a little less educated about it, and you’re maybe a little less careful or like trust people more.” This response acknowledges home instability as a risk factor, as well as possibly alluding to homeless and runaway youth; at-risk youth included all of these populations, are a highly vulnerable population to trafficking. The idea of being too trusting or not careful enough is an oversimplified approach to the issue of trafficking, as the combination of risk factors and false promises in trafficking situations generally combines to lead to victimization, rather than an instance of too much trust or lack of care.

Another response characterized the victims’ appearance as an increased risk factor, ideating, “I feel like what makes someone more at-risk is the quote-on-quote attractiveness of someone…like if someone like that’s partaking in human trafficking sees someone attractive, they’ll assume like, ‘oh, someone else is going to like this,’ and they’ll do whatever method is possible to…get that person in whatever manner that may be.” In reality, a person’s vulnerability is what makes them a more attractive potential victim for traffickers to exploit, not their physical appearance.

Another cited location as a risk factor, explaining, “if you’re more in like a popular location [for trafficking] rather than like being somewhere where there’s not.” This can be an increased risk factor in tandem with additional points of vulnerability. However, it is again important to acknowledge the potential for victimization to occur anywhere, regardless of the overall prevalence of victimizations in specific areas.

2 respondents acknowledged vulnerability as the main factor that puts people more at-risk for trafficking victimization, with one stating, “Vulnerability, just being vulnerable; not being around the right people, and uh, not having protection or anything to fight off a sex trafficker.” Situation and circumstance, as well as surroundings, are major points of vulnerability.

Finally, one respondent tied in knowledge and awareness from a recent speaker within UTSA Athletics, Brenda Tracy, the founder of Set the Expectation, “a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending sexual and interpersonal violence through prevention work with men, advocacy, and engagement with agencies serving survivors and their families” (Visit https://www.settheexpectation.org to learn more about her story and work). With increased awareness of perpetrators and complicity of bystanders, this respondent answered the question of risk factors from the perspective of how someone may be able to help those more at-risk, reflecting,

“Oh okay, so…going into the Tracy talk, it’s kind of like that, I mean it’s not necessarily trafficking but it’s still, I feel like that whole story, it kind of like makes you think. Well, I mean, men are the culprits, and women are I feel like more victimized in that situation; but I mean it could be like the other way around, but I feel…like women are definitely a lot more at-risk for this kind of thing. And it’s terrible, especially for like guys, because it ruins our image, but I feel like with me, I think it’s a horrible thing, I would want to find whoever it was and you know, get to the bottom of this, but it’s like it’s our own kind, it’s like terrorizing our own gender.”

This respondent highlighted the need for increased awareness and recognition in order to solve the problem of trafficking, much like solving the problem of sexual assault. Additionally, the respondent reflected a desire to take personal action and responsibility for doing what they could to help combat the issue. It was very positive to see how Brenda Tracy’s sexual assault and relationship abuse prevention work translated to apply to issues of human trafficking for this athlete in particular.

Question 5: What do you think are some red flags or indicators that someone is being trafficked?

Most of the respondents identified mood, demeanor, or body language as red flags that someone may be a victim of trafficking, as well as the way that they interact with whoever accompanies them in public scenarios. One person answered, “Facial expressions or…you see people in public and the way like their parent is talking to them, or how close they are if they go off, or what they’re wearing.” Another said, “If they’re really shy and not really talkative, or if they always look for approval from the person that they are with.” Another suggested, “I think maybe not saying much, kind of like being a little jittery which means like they’re scared, stuff like that,” and similarly, another said, “If they’re like paranoid, if they’re walking somewhere and they’re like checking their shoulder or something like that.”

Another respondent related, “Demeanor, just how they’re walking around, how they’re carrying themselves around. You might, you know, notice a little change, but it might be, uh something big going on behind the scenes.” These alluded subtleties are possible signs of trafficking victimization in conjunction with other factors. One respondent associated physical appearance with red flags, stating that someone being trafficked may, “look exhausted…they don’t look right physically.”

The associated vagueness with these responses depicts the difficulty in identifying trafficking victims at a glance in day-to-day interactions. One response encapsulated this difficulty to put the red flags that are sensed more than seen into words, discerning,

“I feel like just the uncomfortableness, like if they’re with the person that is like their handler…I feel like if you see like an uneven or unsettling relationship between them, I feel like that’s an alert right there. Or if they’re nervous or they’re not allowed to like really do things much, or they’re just very timid or shy or just like something…that’s out of the ordinary for most people that are with someone else. I feel like you know it when you see it.”

That feeling that something is just not normal or right in a relationship could be a possible indicator of a trafficking scenario, but it makes it much more challenging to confidently report suspicions without more clarity in what about the relationship or interaction seems unsettling.

One respondent shared an example of trafficking that they had seen within their own hometown.

“I remember one time there was like a nail salon and they always had like the bars on the windows, and the ladies always seemed like a little bit off, like they wouldn’t leave ever. And…you could kind of see in the back there was like sleeping bags. They didn’t have any bruises on them because that would’ve been like obvious, but it was just like their behavior…the nail salon did like get reported and got shut down…so that was one way me and my mom were able to tell.”

This provides an example of what some of the other student-athletes may have meant by “you know it when you see it;” this respondent was able to take the behavioral signs, along with environmental and situational context clues, to conclude that human trafficking of some form was occurring at this location.

A couple of respondents stuck with the idea of kidnapping as a sign, with one saying, “Maybe someone following someone around or putting something like under their car or something, like those little tricks, I’ve heard about those tricks.” Another related, “…this image of like kidnapping like goes to me, so as soon as I see some kind of like kidnapping or someone out of the blue just like that doesn’t belong there, I feel like that would kind of raise a red flag.” These obvious indicators of kidnapping are definitely red flags for anyone’s safety; however, it is more likely that someone may be able to notice a victim indicating a sign rather than noticing a perpetrator.

The previous respondent ended their comment stating, “…with me, again, it’s like if it happens or whatever and I’m just looking maybe something else could be happening…this is so interesting because now I’m just like what could be [a red flag]…I’ve never really been in a situation where I’ve seen someone actually, I mean I might’ve seen it, and I wouldn’t even know, so it’s like, man, I wish I kind of knew what the signs are.”

Source: Unsplash

Concluding Thoughts

These interviews were conducted in an attempt to gain a greater understanding of the overall education level and awareness of human trafficking within UTSA’s student-athlete population. Although only 11 subjects were interviewed, the results of these interviews uncovered some common misconceptions, as well as a common desire to learn more, across all subjects. A subsequent article will disprove these misconceptions and provide further clarification for some of the questions posed through this interview process.