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ABSTRACT
Anti-sex trafficking advocates often rely on victim stories or profiles to spread awareness and support for sex trafficking victims. Yet little research has examined the effects of these profiles present in media. A 2 (narrative exemplar (anecdote)/non-anecdote) × 2 (victim kidnapped/groomed) between-subjects factorial design experiment with undergraduates (N = 109) examined the impact of victim profiles on mediator variables (i.e., identification, similarity, vulnerability, and victim blaming) and outcome variables (i.e., awareness, support for victim services, and supportive intentions). Significant indirect effects indicated that vulnerability often positively mediated the relationship between profile type and outcome variable, whereas victim blaming negatively mediated that same relationship. This study suggests there may be contexts where unintended effects of victim profiles should be further examined through theoretical lenses and confirms the need to further educate the public about the equity of victim circumstances through media.
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Notes on contributors
Autumn Shafer
Autumn Shafer, PhD, is an assistant professor at the School of Journalism and Communication at the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon. Her research focuses on social, theoretical, and practical issues related to public health promotion and social issues advocacy.
Britney Looney, BA, majored in public relations at the College of Media and Communication at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. She completed this research as part of an independent study during her senior year.