Sex trafficking doesn't happen in distant places to other people—it thrives on trauma that exists in every community. During my nine months working with survivors at The Cupcake Girls, I learned that traffickers are skilled predators who specifically target those whose past wounds have left them vulnerable. But I also witnessed extraordinary resilience: survivors rebuilding their lives, reclaiming their voices, and teaching us that while trauma may create vulnerability, it doesn't determine destiny.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disorder that sometimes develops in individuals who experience, witness, or indirectly experience a traumatic event like death, injury, or sexual violence. Individuals who learn that a trauma happened to a close friend or family member can also develop PTSD.

Abuse and trauma are harrowing experiences that can leave lasting emotional and psychological scars on survivors. Unfortunately, society often exacerbates their pain by placing blame on those who have endured such traumatic events. It is crucial to understand why people resort to blaming survivors and the detrimental impact this has on their healing process. In this blog post, we will explore several key reasons behind this troubling phenomenon.