“Throw Dat Hat!”: Educational Experiences, Attainment, and Aspirations of Adolescent Female Trafficking Survivors in a Residential Facility

Sunny Wells (), Gretchen S. Goode, Kimberly A. Hogan, Rebecca Lavigne, Tommie Killen and Megan Simmons
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Sunny Wells: School of Education, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA
Gretchen S. Goode: School of Education, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA
Kimberly A. Hogan: School of Social Work, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA
Rebecca Lavigne: School of Education, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA
Tommie Killen: School of Education, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS 39406, USA
Megan Simmons: Learning, Teaching and Literacies, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA

Social Sciences, 2024, vol. 13, issue 11, 1-16

Abstract: This study addresses the gap in research on the educational experiences of adolescent human trafficking survivors, with a focus on their past, present, and future educational experiences and goals. Its objective is to inform the best practices for educational programming within female adolescent residential care centers in the United States. Drawing on a subset of data from a broader mixed-methods case study conducted at the Allasso House residential facility, this research involved 11 current residents. The data sources included case files detailing their past educational experiences, assessments of their current educational achievements, and interviews exploring their future aspirations. The findings reveal key themes related to the residents past risk factors, current educational successes and barriers, and tensions in setting future goals. Most of the residents expressed a desire to attain high school equivalency, identifying financial stability as a primary motivation. They also aspired to form healthy families, while placing significant value on material success. Unlike studies that define success primarily through survival, sobriety, and the avoidance of re-trafficking, this research highlights the broader aspirations of these adolescents, emphasizing the critical role of education in general wellbeing, risk mitigation, and future success. This study underscores the importance of prioritizing educational attainment and long-term aspirations in future research and in the design of residential programs for adolescent survivors of trafficking.

Keywords: adolescent trafficking; educational experiences; educational attainment; future aspirations; sex trafficking (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A B N P Y80 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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