Stories are a powerful tool for raising awareness. They build support for policy change. They help other survivors feel less alone. But storytelling can also come at a cost, especially when survivors are not given the chance to share their stories on their own terms.
To deepen our understanding of how survivors are impacted by public storytelling, Cast partnered with Collective Threads Initiative, Kent State University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on a new study. We surveyed 85 human trafficking survivors in the United States and Kenya about why they choose to share their stories, what they have experienced when doing so, and what would make storytelling practices more survivor centered.
We found that nearly three in four survivors had spoken publicly about their trafficking experiences before, and they named four main reasons for doing so:
- Supporting other survivors and easing isolation
- Preventing human trafficking by raising awareness
- Personal healing
- Advocating for systemic and policy change
One survivor described storytelling as a way to help others know “they are not alone and nor are they stuck experiencing trafficking.” Others were motivated less by their own story and more by what it could reveal about the systems around them. One survivor explained they wanted to focus on how their experience connects to bigger issues that need to be addressed.
Survivors also had clear preferences about what they wanted to share. Across the board, survey participants were more comfortable offering broad references to their trafficking experiences than sharing detailed descriptions of the harm they endured. They most welcomed discussing the resources and support that helped them heal or that were missing along the way. They did not want to share graphic details of their trauma.
Many survivors also described a pattern of harm connected to storytelling. These included:
- Stories shared without their consent
- Pressure to share the most painful or triggering details of their story
- Last minute requests that left little time to prepare or set boundaries
- Stories reshaped or “twisted” by organizers to fit a particular narrative
- Unpaid labor, event when survivors were experienced professional speakers
- Career setback and online
Over time, many survivors developed firmer boundaries in response. Some stopped sharing personal details altogether and shifted toward speaking about systemic issues instead. Others began requiring compensation or leaned on survivor networks to reinforce that they did not owe anyone the specifics of their experience.
We call for a model built on informed consent, clear communication about how a story will be used, and real partnership with survivors. That means giving survivors time to prepare, respecting the boundaries they set, and checking in on their wellbeing before, during, and after an engagement.
The study is available in Violence Against Women.
Notes to editors
Cast is a nonprofit organization working to end human trafficking through a survivor-centered public health approach. Based in Los Angeles, Cast works to prevent exploitation, support survivors as they build safe and independent lives, and advance policies and systems that address the root causes of trafficking.
For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact our Director of Development and Communications, Lorena Sanchez at lorena@castla.org.
