Assessing for Bias in Health Professional Human Trafficking Trainings

Author: Eskelund, Tehillah; Martin, Teresa; Park, Caroline; Wang, Xichen; Rydberg, Jason; Bachrach, Lela & Stoklosa, Hanni

Abstract: Health professionals frequently care for individuals who have been trafficked, yet many go unrecognized. Trainings that reinforce narrow stereotypes may contribute to these missed opportunities by shaping provider perceptions and deepening bias. The purpose of this study was to assess whether introductory online trainings about human trafficking reflect representational biases. Thirteen publicly available trainings were analyzed for sensationalism, racial representation, gender identity expression, and trafficking type. All trainings showed bias in at least one domain; the greatest bias was toward feminine gender expression (92%). Sensationalized imagery appeared in 46%. White-presenting survivors were overrepresented in 38%. About half lacked any transgender/nonbinary (46%) or LGBTQ+ (54%) identities. Sex trafficking was emphasized over labor trafficking in 85% of trainings. Even brief trainings can shape perceptions and perpetuate bias. Educators should critically examine representation and their own positionality to support trauma-informed skills-building that helps clinicians recognize and support all survivors in clinical care.

Keywords: bias, education, gender, health care trainings, labor trafficking, medical education, race, sensationalism, sex trafficking, trafficking