Shattered Hearts: Commercial Sexual Exploitation of American Indian Women And Girls In Minnesota

• NCJ Number: 235241
• Author(s): Alexandra Pierce, Ph.D.
• Date Published: 2009
• Length: 130 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: W.K. Kellogg Foundation
• Corporate Author: Minnesota Indian Women's Resource Ctr
• Sale Source: Minnesota Indian Women's Resource Ctr
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This report compiles information known to date about the commercial sexual exploitation of American-Indian women and girls in Minnesota, and it offers recommendations for addressing gaps in knowledge and victims' needs.

Abstract

The first section of the report describes the historical experiences of American-Indian women in the United States, which have made them uniquely vulnerable to commercial sexual exploitation. The ways in which such exploitation affects their well-being are also unique to this population. The second section describes the methods and sources used in producing this report, and definitions are provided for the terms used to describe the experiences of American-Indian women and girls victimized by sexual exploitation. This is followed by a section with information on the prevalence of American-Indian women's and girls' involvement in the sex trade in Minnesota, other areas across the United States, and in Canada. The next section describes American-Indian women's and girls' pattern of entry into commercial sexual exploitation; and another section identifies the risk factors that facilitate victims' entry into commercial sexual exploitation. The report then presents information on the barriers and challenges involved in helping these victims to escape commercial sexual exploitation. The recommendations that conclude the report are derived from advocates attending two regional roundtables; American-Indian community leaders and elders who attended the "listening" session; Aboriginal victims of commercial sexual exploitation and Aboriginal community members who participated in Canadian studies of commercial sexual exploitation; and data and literature obtained for this report. Recommendations pertain to increasing awareness of the problem; holding sexual exploiters accountable; beginning outreach to victims exploited in commercial sexual enterprises; improving access to emergency shelter and transitional housing; increasing options for self-sufficiency; improving helping systems and increasing collaboration; and providing specialized training to professionals who serve these exploited Native-American women and girls. Appended roundtable agenda and 386 notes