GSUGC Psychological Considerations for Crime Victims Discussion

Option #2: Psychological Considerations for Crime Victims

Read the story below and then answer the questions listed at the end of the story.

Story: Human Trafficking Survivor Raped 43,200 Times Links to an external site.

That is not a typo in the title. Human trafficking victim Karla Jacinto estimates that she was raped 43,200 times. Jacinto was abducted by human traffickers in Mexico and indicated that, over a period of four years, she was raped daily by up to 30 men. Yes, each day, and for four years.

Karla Jacinto grew up in the small town of Tenancingo, which is southeast of Mexico City. Despite being a small town of only 13,000 people, Tenancingo has a shocking reputation for prostitution. In an interview, Karla recalls being mistreated by her parents at the age of 5, as well as being sexually abused by a relative as early as age 5. Karla was targeted by a 22-year-old trafficker at the age of 12 and initially went with him willingly because of how her family continually mistreated her. Karla was almost immediately forced into sexual slavery, traveling to different cities and being forced to engage in all forms of sexual activity. In addition to the sexual victimization, Karla was beaten by her pimp with chains, burned with an iron, kicked, and punched. About a year into this horrible ordeal, the police came to a hotel where Karla and several other girls were being victimized. Karla thought she would finally be freed. Much to her dismay, the police, approximately 30 of them, went around to the different rooms taking pictures and shooting videos of the victims in sexual positions. Karla recalled that some of the victims there were as young as age 10. The police then left without doing anything. Karla would eventually be rescued after four long years of extreme sexual, physical, and psychological abuse.

Part I – Reflection (1-2 pages)

Imagine that you are Karla Jacinto. What emotions do you think she experienced growing up in a home where she was neglected and sexually abused, and then when she was kidnapped into sexual slavery?

Imagine the role of the pimp. The pimp is the person who controls the sex slave. How do you think the pimp rationalizes their awful behavior? What are they motivated by? What should their punishment be?

Imagine the role of the men who rape these sex slaves. How do you think they rationalize their despicable behavior? What are they motivated by? What should their punishment be?

Part II – Application (2 pages)

What psychological impacts are likely for Karla Jacinto and other victims of human trafficking?

What psychological treatments/interventions would be helpful for Karla Jacinto?

Discuss some of the myths about rape, the facts about rape, and how rape can be prevented.