![Image Description:
Leah, Chris, and Jasmin are having a conversation. Leah has long blond hair and blue eyes and light skin. Chris has short blue hair, blue-gray eyes, and light skin, and wears blue glasses. Jasmine has brown skin and dark brown curly hair and wears gold colored glasses.
Leah: I ended up trading sex when I had no other options. I was broke, scared, and afraid of not being able to eat. It was so exploitative!
Jasmin, softly: I’m so sorry you went through that.](https://christianash.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/circumstance_is_messy_@2-001L-1024x1024.jpg)
![Image description:
Jasmin: I ended up trading sex when I had no other options. I was broke, scared, and afraid of not being able to eat. I’m so grateful I had a way to feed myself without going back to my abusive ex.
Leah, softly: Oh, my heart!](https://christianash.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/circumstance_is_messy_@2-002L-1024x1024.jpg)
![Chris thinks: People can be in the sex trades consensually, by coercion, or in that middle range - “circumstance.” People in the sex trades by circumstance are those who would do something else if they could.](https://christianash.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/circumstance_is_messy_@2-003L-1024x1024.jpg)
![Leah: I’m so angry at people who purchase sexual services or content!
Jasmin: I’m so angry at a system that leaves so many of us vulnerable like this!](https://christianash.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/circumstance_is_messy_@2-004L-1024x1024.jpg)
![Leah:: We should stop people from buying sexual services or content!
Jasmin: But if we do that, how will I feed my family?](https://christianash.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/circumstance_is_messy_@2-005L-1024x1024.jpg)
![Chris: I hear you both, but ultimately, if we want to ensure that no person ever has to choose to engage in the sex trades if they don’t want to, a strong social safety net would be the most effective prevention strategy.](https://christianash.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/circumstance_is_messy_@2-006L-1-1024x1024.jpg)
![Chris: I hear you both, but ultimately, if we want to ensure that no person ever has to choose to engage in the sex trades if they don’t want to, a strong social safety net would be the most effective prevention strategy.](https://christianash.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/circumstance_is_messy_@2-007L-1-1024x1024.jpg)
For more about the spectrum of agency and harm reduction strategies to support people in the sex trades, see the Human Trafficking Prevention Toolkit.
by admin - September 23, 2021
For more about the spectrum of agency and harm reduction strategies to support people in the sex trades, see the Human Trafficking Prevention Toolkit.